AUCKLAND, NZ - Auckland City FC return to Kiwitea Street for their final home match before a demanding stretch of away fixtures in the Northern League and Chatham Cup — and before departing for Fiji to defend their OFC Champions League title.
17 July 2026
Momentum is building, confidence is rising, and the Navy Blues arrive in strong form as Tauranga City make the trip north.
Form & Momentum – Navy Blues Hitting Their Stride
City come into the weekend fresh off a commanding 5–0 win over Manukau United, a performance that showcased both attacking sharpness and defensive control.
New signing Pavel Osmančík made an immediate impact with a hat‑trick on debut, becoming only the third player in club history to achieve the feat. Ryan Watson added his first goal for the club, while Angus Kilkolly completed the scoring.
The Navy Blues have now won four straight matches, all with clean sheets, outscoring opponents 13–0 across that run. With depth growing and competition for places intensifying, City look well‑positioned heading into the decisive phase of the season.
Head‑to‑Head – A Fixture with Edge
Auckland City and Tauranga City have met six times, with City holding a strong record:
- 4 wins
- 1 draw
- 1 loss
- 18–6 goal difference
- Unbeaten at Kiwitea Street
Their most recent meeting — a 0–0 draw at Links Ave in April — was a tight, wind‑affected contest where City created chances but were denied by strong goalkeeping and difficult conditions.
From the Dugout – Rudy Mozr on Momentum and Tauranga
Head coach Rudy Mozr says the squad is trending in the right direction:
“We’ve lost one out of the last 14, 15 games. The boys have been doing really well, and we’re getting stronger as the season progresses.”
Mozr highlighted the impact of new arrivals Pavel Osmančík and Ryan Watson, praised the recent form of Fergus and Matt Foord in securing four consecutive clean sheets, and emphasised the importance of depth with midweek fixtures and international commitments approaching.
On Tauranga: “I have a lot of respect for their coach and youth system. They usually put in a good performance against Auckland City and cause trouble. We’ll do our best to perform and keep the points low.”
Milestone Watch – Major Marks Approaching
Vice‑captain Adam Mitchell recently became the fifth player to reach 200 appearances — a model of consistency and leadership.
Club captain Mario Ilich followed soon after, becoming the sixth Navy Blue to hit the milestone during last week’s win.
Dylan Manickum, on 199 matches, is set to become the seventh player to join the 200‑club.
Regont Murati enters the weekend on 99 appearances, ready to reach his century.
U23s – Young Navy Blues Eye Three in a Row
The U23s continue to build momentum after a hard‑fought 1–0 win over Manukau United, sealed by a brilliant long‑range strike from Kaio Martinez. Back‑to‑back victories have lifted confidence across the group, and they now aim to make it three straight wins when they host Tauranga City U23 at 12:00pm at the Croatian Club.
Momentum building. Direction clear.
Community – Building a Lasting Legacy in Mt Roskill
Auckland City FC is proud to support the Roskill Schools Turf Project — a safe, modern, all‑weather facility designed for thousands of young people in the Mt Roskill community.
The project will create a space where the next generation can play, grow and thrive, reflecting the club’s commitment to long‑term community impact both on and off the pitch.
Ends
Match Details
Northern League – Round 17
Auckland City FC vs Tauranga City
Saturday 18 July 2026
Kick-off: 3:00 PM
Venue: Kiwitea Street
U23 Match: Auckland City FC U23 vs Tauranga City U23
Kick-off: 12:00 PM
Venue: Croatian Club
AC SQUAD: 2. Mario ILICH (C) 3. Adam MITCHELL 4. Christian GRAY 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. Nathan LOBO 14. Shaan ANAND 15. Jeremy FOO 16. Fergus GILLION 17. Ryan WATSON 18. Ari PRASAD (GK) 19. Dylan CONNOLLY, 20. Pavel OSMANICK 22. Tong ZHOU 23. Alfie ROGERS 24. Matt FOORD (GK) 25. Mike Den HEIJER, 26. Matt ELLIS 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
