All eyes on Junior Navy Blues

Words: ACFC Media

Friday 18 October 2019

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - All eyes fall on Auckland City FC when they face arch-rivals and fellow unbeaten table-toppers Waitakere United in the National Youth League at Kiwitea Street on Saturday.

Both teams have racked up impressive wins in their two outings to date and the Junior Navy Blues will want to make home advantage count as they look to heap pressure on the chasing pack.

Waitakere United are in top form themselves having thrashed Hawke's Bay United 6-3 in Napier a fortnight ago and edging Team Wellington 3-2 last week.

While scoring goals doesn't seem to be a problem for the West Aucklanders, stopping them has caught the eye of coach Kris Bright.

"We've got a bit of momentum which is great. The boys have done really well in the first couple of games but this one will be a lot different to the first two, they'll bring a different style, different shape and mentality.

"We've told the players what to expect and it's going to be on them to obviously lift their game to be handle Waitakere United.

PREVIEW - "We have momentum" - Kris Bright

All eyes on the #JuniorNavyBlues as they face Waitakere United at Kiwitea Street in the #NYL on Saturday

#StrengthInUnity

https://t.co/ZeCAgqjP3P (preview)
https://t.co/KPUzQZRPgo (audio) pic.twitter.com/cb8E3AePeW
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) October 18, 2019

"We've kept two cleansheets but like us they've scored nine goals and they're going to be dangerous at all times.

"We've said to the team to be aware of that every minute of the game and hopefully we can keep a cleansheet and if we can do that we'll be very happy," Bright told www.aucklandcityfc.com.

In other games around New Zealand, Saturday's matches see Wellington Phoenix host Southern United and will hope last week's win over Eastern Suburbs can catapult them to another positive result in the capital while Tasman United tackle the Lilywhites in Nelson.

On Sunday, Canterbury United entertain unbeaten Hamilton Wanderers and Team Wellington will look to bounce back when Hawke's Bay make the long journey to Porirua in search of their first points of the campaign.

Ends

AUDIO - 'We have momentum' - Kris Bright, Auckland City FC NYL head coach

Match Details
National Youth League
Saturday 19 October 2019
Auckland City FC v Waitakere United
Kiwitea Street, Auckland
Kick-off: 2pm NZST

AC: 1. Sam BOTTOMLEY (GK), 4. Nick MILICICH, 5. Dhanush CHANDRA, 6. Callum McNEILL, 7. Matt HODGSON, 8. Miles PALMER, 9. Tawanda MAROWA, 10. Matthew ELLIS, 11. Deandre VOLLEHOVEN, 13. Malcolm YOUNG, 15. Harry FREEMAN, 17. Thomas DRILLIEN, 18. Cameron BROWN (GK), 22. Micaiah PAPA, 23. Aidan CAREY [c], 25. BEN GALLAGHER.

Head coach: Kris BRIGHT
Assistant coach: Adam BANNISTER
Goalkeeper coach: Jacob SPOONLEY
Property Steward: Matthew FRANICH
Team Manager: Christian DAWSON

National Youth League 2019 - Week 3

Saturday 19 October 2019
Tasman United v Eastern Suburbs AFC
Saxton Field, kick-off 1.00pm

Wellington Phoenix v Southern United
Petone Memorial, kick-off 2.00pm

Sunday 20 October 2019
Canterbury United v Hamilton Wanderers
English Park, kick-off 2.00pm

Team Wellington v Hawke's Bay United
Ole Academy, kick-off 2.00pm

National Youth League 2019: Results

Week 1
Hawke's Bay United 3-6 Waitakere United
Wellington Phoenix 1-4 Canterbury United
Tasman United 0-2 Hamilton Wanderers
Auckland City FC 5-0 Eastern Suburbs AFC
Team Wellington 2-1 Southern United

Week 2
Southern United 0-4 Auckland City FC
Waitakere United 3-2 Team Wellington
Eastern Suburbs AFC 2-4 Wellington Phoenix
Hamilton Wanderers 2-1 Hawke's Bay United
Canterbury United 1-5 Tasman United