AUCKLAND, NZ - Auckland City head across Dominion Road on Easter Monday for one of the league’s most intense fixtures - a short trip, a tight pitch, and a derby that rarely allows for comfort.
4 April 2026
The short turnaround from Good Friday’s narrow 1–0 defeat to Birkenhead means there is little time to dwell, and the derby arrives at a moment when clarity and response are needed.
Striker Angus Kilkolly, who made his 150th appearance for the club against Birko, summed up the feeling after the match. “There’s not much time to dwell on this result. Another derby coming up on Monday at Keith Hay Park… we do need to get going.”
Despite the frustration, his message remained calm. “We’ve got a really good squad, some really good players, and it’s not going to be long until it all comes together. It’s a long season — you want to be peaking at the end, not the start. So no panic stations yet. But yeah, massive game on Monday to try and get three points.”
Form and Standings
The table remains tight after three rounds. Auckland City sit on 3 points with a +1 goal difference, competitive in every match but still searching for fluency in the final third. Auckland United sit on 5 points and are part of the early leading group in the wider Northern League standings, showing efficiency in both boxes.
Head-to-Head Record
The overall history between the clubs leans strongly in City’s favour:
- 13 total meetings
- Auckland City wins: 9
- Auckland United wins: 2
- Draws: 2
Keith Hay Park narrows the gap:
- 6 matches at Keith Hay Park
- City wins: 3
- United wins: 2
- Draws: 1
The most recent meeting was the 4–2 Auckland City win on 8 November 2025, a fast and open match that highlighted City’s attacking potential when their patterns click.
U23s Set the Stage
The U23s will also look to rebound after their Good Friday defeat. They face Auckland United U23 at 12:30pm at Keith Hay Park, setting the tone for the afternoon before the first team kicks off.
The Stakes
Derbies are rarely about form. They are about nerve, clarity, and seizing the moment. United want to prove their early-season momentum is real. City want to reassert their authority in a fixture they have historically controlled.
With both sides sitting in a congested table and the season still taking shape, Easter Monday carries weight. The Dominion Road Derby always delivers.
If you can’t make it to Keith Hay Park WATCH LIVE HERE courtesy of FIFA+
Ends
AC SQUAD: 1. Nathan GARROW (GK) 2. Mario ILICH (C) 3. Adam MITCHELL 5. Nathan ROSTRON 6. Kieran RICHARDS, 7. Michal DOUDERA 8. Gerard GARRIGA 9. Angus KILKOLLY 10. Dylan MANICKUM 11. Ryan DE VRIES 12. Regont MURATI 13. Shaan ANAND 14. Nico ZAMBRANO 15. Jeremy FOO 18. Ari PRASAD (GK) 19. Dylan CONNOLLY, 21. Adam Kanui BELL 22. Tong ZHOU 23. Alfie ROGERS 24. Seba CIGANDA (GK) 27. Tom GOLDING
HEAD COACH : Rudy MOZR
ASSISTANT COACH: Ivan VICELICH
ASSISTANT COACH: Alan SHAKER
GOALKEEPER COACH: Adam BANNISTER
TRAINER: Karlo PAVIC
PHYSIO: Matt PAYNE
TEAM MANAGER: Keith COTON
