Late Win Keeps Title Hopes on Track

Words: ACFC Media

Monday 18 November 2024

Picture: Phototek

NAPIER, New Zealand – A late goal by Stipe Ukich saw Auckland City FC emerge victorious in their must-win match over Napier City Rovers in Sunday afternoon’s tense National League clash at Bluewater Stadium in Hawke’s Bay.

Entering the penultimate round of the regular season, Auckland City sat in third place, just a point behind league leaders Napier City and second-placed Birkenhead United. Needing a win to climb back into the top two and keep their title hopes alive, the visitors faced a formidable challenge.

Napier City, in stellar form at the summit of the table, aimed to secure points to maintain their pole position. With high stakes on both sides, the match kicked off with a palpable sense of urgency. Auckland City created numerous early chances, with Jerson Lagos, Kailan Gould, and Myer Bevan orchestrating threatening plays, while Napier’s counter-attacks kept Conor Tracey on alert.

Bevan came agonisingly close to opening the scoring, only to be thwarted by the woodwork. Both Lagos and Gould tested Napier keeper William Tonning, but it was a frenetic end to the half that saw Tracey produce a stunning save to deny Jordan Annear’s powerful header, Napier’s best chance of the half.

In the second half, Oscar Faulds narrowly missed a golden opportunity for Napier, while Tracey continued to excel, saving a well-struck free kick by Kieran Richards. As both sides pushed for crucial points, it seemed they would settle for a draw until Ukich popped up in the 90th minute to snatch a dramatic close-range winner for Auckland City.

With this vital win, City leapfrogged Napier into second place on the table, now just a point behind Birkenhead United, who moved to the top with a 2-1 victory over Coastal Spirit.

Auckland City FC will host Coastal Spirit on Sunday, 24 November at Kiwitea Street, knowing that a victory would secure their spot in the National League final on 1 December at North Harbour Stadium.

MATCH DETAILS
National League R8
Bluewater Stadium, Napier
Napier City Rovers: 0
Auckland City FC: 1 (Stipe UKICH 90’)

HT: 0–0

AC: 1. Conor TRACEY GK, 2. Mario ILICH (CP), 3. Adam MITCHELL, 6. Kailan GOULD, (27. Stipe UKICH 61’), 7. Myer BEVAN, (9. Angus KILKOLLY 65’), 8.Gerard GARRIGA, (14. Kentaro OZAKI 79’) 10. Dylan MANICKUM, (12. Regont MURATI 65’), 13. Nathan LOBO, 17. Jerson LAGOS, 19, Yuki AIZU, 25. Michael DEN HEIJER,

SUBS NOT USED: 24. Nathan GARROW GK,
COACH: Albert RIERA
ASSISTANT COACH: Ivan VICELICH
GK COACH: Enaut ZUBIKARAI
TECHNICAL: Adria CASALS
LOGISTICS: Rob HAYTER
PHYSIO: Matt PAYNE