Navy Blues Honour Ryza With Dominant Win

Kiwitea Street has staged many milestones across Auckland City’s modern era, but few have carried the emotional weight of this one. On Saturday afternoon, Ryan De Vries — over a decade‑long symbol of the club’s identity — walked the team out as captain for his 250th competitive appearance, and the Navy Blues responded with a performance that honoured the moment: a 4–0 victory, a fifth straight win, and another step in consolidating their place inside the top four.

For a player whose career has taken him from OFC Champions League finals to the FIFA Club World Cup, where he famously scored in the 2014 third‑place playoff, this was a day that felt both celebratory and deeply personal.

“To get your 250th game for the club and to get a 4–0 win is special,” De Vries said afterwards, still processing the scale of the occasion.

A first half of patience, then precision

City controlled the early exchanges without finding the breakthrough, but the pressure finally told just before the interval. Michal Doudera, sharp and composed, broke the deadlock with a clean finish that rewarded City’s territorial dominance.

The goal settled the side, and after the restart the match tilted decisively in their favour.

Angus Kilkolly, in the form of his season, rose to meet a cross with a thumping header — his fifth goal in four matches — doubling the lead and tightening City’s grip on the contest.

A day for the next generation

If the afternoon belonged emotionally to De Vries, the scoreboard soon reflected the club’s future.

Bono Kacurov, calm under pressure, buried a penalty for his first First Team goal, before Shaan Anand added his maiden senior strike in the closing moments — a crisp finish that capped a complete team display.

A clean sheet, four goals, and contributions from across the squad: the kind of performance that signals a side building momentum at exactly the right time.

Ryza’s reflections: “Every game is special for this club”

After the match, De Vries spoke with the same humility that has defined his 250‑game journey.

“There’s a lot of highlights… every game is special for this club. I’ve been fortunate to play 250 games for a club I love the most.”

He acknowledged the team’s imperfections but praised their resilience during a 5‑match winning run.

“Every win is important… we started well, switched off a bit, but three points is three points. Melville are a good team, they put us under pressure, but we got the job done.”

Returning from injury and marking the day with an assist, he added:

“It’s been a while — I’ve been injured — so I’m just grateful to be back out there with the boys.”

U23s continue their surge

Earlier in the day, the U23s extended their own winning streak with a 3–2 victory, their third straight, thanks to an opener from Kaio Martinez and a brace from Sam Clegg.

Martinez summed up the performance succinctly:

“We dominated most of the game.”

The alignment between the First Team and U23s — in results, energy, and emerging talent — was unmistakable.

A perfect performance on a perfect day

From De Vries’ milestone to the emergence of new goalscorers, from Kilkolly’s relentless scoring run to another clean sheet, this was a day that captured the breadth of Auckland City’s identity: experience, youth, quality, and unity.

A fifth straight win, a tightening grip on the top four, and a captain’s armband worn by a player who has given everything to the club.

Congratulations to Ryan De Vries on 250 appearances — a true Auckland City FC legend — and to the team for delivering a performance worthy of the occasion.

Match Result
Northern League R11
Saturday, 23 May
Kiwitea St

Auckland City  FC : 4 (Michal DOUDERA 43’, Angus KILKOLLY 56’, Bono KACUROV (P) 84’, Shaan ANAND 90’)
Melville United AFC : 0

HT: 1-0

AC: 1. Nathan GARROW (GK) 2. Mario ILICH (C) 5. Nathan ROSTRON 7. Michal DOUDERA (13. Shaan ANAND 63’) 8. Gerard GARRIGA 9. Angus KILKOLLY (6. Kieran RICHARDS 76’) 11. Ryan De VRIES (17. Bono KACUROV 63’) 12. Regont MURATI 15. Jeremy FOO 19. Dylan CONNOLLY 27. Tom GOLDING (21. Adam BELL 70’)

SUBS NOT USED: 18. Seba CIGANDA (GK)

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