The second round of the New Zealand Football Championship kicks off tomorrow with some exciting matchups up and down the country.
On Saturday Auckland City travel south to Ngaruawahia to take on Waikato FC at their new home – Centennial Park, while YoungHeart Manawatu host Team Wellington at Memorial Park. Sunday see’s Canterbury travel to Dunedin to face Otago in the battle of the South.
– Auckland were one of four first-round winners and with champions Waitakere taking a week out to test themselves against the Wellington Phoenix, the three-times former champions can take an outright lead with victory over Waikato. Waikato have planned a family atmosphere their new Ngaruawahia digs and points against their northern neighbours would only add to the festivities.
– Fellow first round winners YoungHeart have the same opportunity to grab the lead if they can back up at home to Team Wellington. Former capital favourite Ref de Gregorio makes his first appearance against his old club, who showed enough against Waitakere last weekend to suggest they could still be a contender this season.
– Otago and Canterbury, the bottom two clubs from last season, find themselves at or neat the foot of the table after round one. But it’s early days and a fiercely contested southern derby is a chance for at least one club to put themselves back in contention for a semi-final spot.
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Waikato FC v Auckland City
Centennial Park (Ngaruawahia)
November 15, 2008
Kickoff: 2pm
Referee:
Head to Head: Played 12: Waikato 3 wins, Auckland 7 wins, 2 draws
Waikato FC (L)
The players: Late signing Michael Mayne joins the matchday squad with Edmondson yet to decide who drops out.
The vital statistics: In three games outside Hamilton last season, (all against the bottom three clubs) Waikato lost to both Otago and Manawatu and drew with Canterbury. All games were at Links Ave, Mount Maunganui.
Squad List: 1-Jason Mann (GK), 2-Joel Mathews, 3-Ben Hunt, 4-Graham Pearce, 7-Joe Simpkins, 8-Paul Stewart, 9-Marco Rojas, 10-Stu Hogg, 11-Steven Holloway, 12-Daniel Rattray, 13-Shaun Van Rooyen, 15-Rhys Ruka, 16-Sam Margetts, 18-Nick Robson, 21-Jon Stables, 24-Michael Mayne, 25-Nathan Strom
Contact: Dave Edmondson (Head Coach) 027 333 4102
Auckland City (W)
The players: Greg Uhlmann returns from a carried over suspension, while Liam Mulrooney could make his first Auckland appearance in two years after being included in the match-day squad. Salesh Kumar drops out of the 16 and Adam McGeorge (ankle – 4-6weeks) joins Xavi Roca on the injured list.
The vital statistics: Auckland have not lost to Waikato in their last six encounters. (5 wins, 1 draw)
Squad List: 1-Ross Nicholson (GK), 2-Nelson Sale, 3-Matt Friel, 5-Matt Williams, 6-Ki-Hyung Lee, 8-Chad Coombes, 9-Paul Urlovic, 10-Grant Young, 11-Alick Maemae, 12-Jacob Spoonley (GK), 14-Keryn Jordan, 15-Ivan Vicelich (Captain), 20-Greg Uhlmann, 21-Riki van Steeden, 23-Liam Mulrooney, 24-Milosh Nikolic,
Contact/s: Colin Tuaa (Head Coach) 021 734 380
YoungHeart Manawatu v Team Wellington
Memorial Park (Palmerston North)
November 15, 2008
Kickoff: 2pm
Referee: Matt Conger (Palmerston North)
Head to Head: Played 13, Manawatu 5 wins, Wellington 5 wins, 3 draws
YoungHeart Manawatu (W)
The players: Adam Cowan is unavailable through work commitments while injuries to Jason Hayne (groin) and Leo Shin (Achilles) have left YoungHeart with a threadbare squad for Saturday. Hayne and Shin face late fitness tests with Sova hopeful of having one of the pair available.
The vital statistics: Good omens? In two seasons (05-06 and 06-07) where Manawatu have begun with Round One win, they have gone on to make the playoffs.
Squad list: 1-Chris Marsh (GK), 3-Pablo Yackson, 4-Jan Weissenfeldt, 6-Matt Kennedy, 8-Nathan Cooksley, 9-Gusatvo Saralegui, 11-Scott Robson,12-Dave Boyack, 16-Raf de Gregorio, 18-Finlay Milne, 19-Andrew Bailey (GK), 20-Gonzalo Nieres, 21-Brook Tozer, 22-Cory Chettleburgh.
Contact: Bob Sova (Head coach) 021 606 652
Team Wellington (L)
The players: Andy Barron is included subject to a late fitness test
12. (subject to fitness test). Brian Little is once again included after a late withdrawal from last week’s squad.
The vital statistics: Team Wellington beat Manawatu 3-1 at home in round two last season but neither of the goal scorers (Graham Little, Daniel Ellensohn x2) are in the squad this season.
Squad list: 1-Phil Imray (GK), 3-Steve Gulley, 5-Michael Eagar, 6-Michael Pickering, 7-Sam Blackburn, 8-Peter Howe, 10-Luis Corrales, 11-Brian Little, 12-Andy Barron, 13-Karl Whalen (Captain), 14-Sam Jenkins, 15-Allen Chote, 16-Pedro Garcias, 17-Jeremy Brockie, 23-Tim Schaeffers, 24-Jake Gleeson (GK), 25-Paul Whitmarsh
Contact: Stu Jacobs (Head coach) 021 724 944
Otago United v Canterbury United
Sunnyvale (Dunedin)
November 16, 2008
Kickoff: 3pm
Referee: Chris Kerr (Auckland)
Head to Head: Played 12, Otago 3 wins, Canterbury 5 wins, 4 draws
Otago United (L)
The players: Blair Scoullar sits out with a knee injury allowing Morgan Day and Tom Connor to line-up in the match day squad.
The vital statistics: Otago’s home defence (14 conceded in 10 games) was the best outside the top four last season.
Squad List: 1-Liam Little (GK), 2-Rys Henderson, 3-Tristan Prattley, 4-Barry Gardiner, 5-Colin Falvey (Captain), 6-Michael Smith, 7-Robbie Deeley, 9-Tom Jackson, 10-David Dugdale, 11-Andy Coburn, 12-Aaron Burgess, 13-Callum Flaws (GK), 14-Sean Brand, 15-Morgan Day 17-Tim Horner, 18-Tom Connor.
Contact/s: Terry Phelan (Head Coach) – 027 230 0095
Canterbury United Dragons (L)
The players: Stuart Kelly is still short of full fitness, so Korouch Monsef has given attacking midfielder Hamish Chang a promotion from the club’s academy.
The vital statistics: Canterbury’s 2-0 win in the third Southern derby in Round 16 last season snapped a 16 match winless streak.
Squad list: 1-Adam Highfield (GK), 3-Matt Boyd, 4-Bill Robertson, 5-Andy Pitman, 7-Ryan Faichnie, 8-Garry McDermott, 9-Tom Lancaster, 10-Jamie Smith, 11-Gareth Turnbull, 12-Michael Fifii, 15-James Reichwein, 16-Nick Wortelboer, 19-Darren Overton, 20-Hamish Chang, 21-Ben Harris, 22-Chris Sinclair (GK)
Contact: Korouch Monsef (Head coach) 021 240 4463
Facts and Figures
Standings
|
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Pts |
| Waitakere United |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
| 1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
|
| Hawke’s Bay United |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
| YoungHeart Manawatu |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
| Team |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
| 1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
-1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
-1 |
0 |
| Otago United |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
-2 |
0 |
Golden Boot Leaders
2 – Allan Pearce (Waitakere)
1 – Andy Barron (Wellington)
1 – Leon Birnie (Hawke’s Bay)
1 – Daniel Ellensohn (Waitakere)
1 – Matt Friel (Auckland)
1 – Pedro Garcia (Wellington)
1 – Jason Hayne (Manawatu)
1 – Steven Holloway (Waikato)
1 – Keryn Jordan (Auckland)
1 – Paul Seaman (Waitakere)
1 – Seule Soromon (Hawke’s Bay)