Tasman, not Madrid, for Auck City
Auckland City are back in town and have a chance to put their Club World Cup disappointment behind them.
Just over a week ago they bowed out of that event with a 1-0 loss to Al Jazira of the United Arab Emirates, in a match where they had the lion’s share of chances, but couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net.
If they were feeling low after that defeat, they would have felt even lower, watching Al Jazira go on to beat the Asian champions, Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan, and earn a glamour tie with the European champions Real Madrid, where they went ahead early before eventually losing 2-1.
The Spaniards could have been Auckland City’s big assignment for the week, but instead they will have to settle for Tasman United, who visit Kiwitea St on Sunday [kickoff 2pm] in the final round of the national men’s football league before Christmas. Points: Auckland City 16, Team Wellington 16, Waita¯kere United 14, Eastern Suburbs 11, Tasman United 10, Canterbury United 10, Southern United 10, Hawke’s Bay United 9, Wellington Phoenix reserves 6, Hamilton Wanderers 1.
Before they left for the UAE, Auckland City were in imperious form, winning five in a row while scoring 23 goals and conceding just one, a run that left them top of the table, which is where they remain after their travels, level on points with Team Wellington, the defending champions.
Assistant coach Ivan Vicelich will be in charge, with Ramon Tribulietx in Spain for personal reasons, and he will be eager to continue City’s strong record in their first match back after the Club World Cup – in five such encounters since 2011, they have picked up four wins and a draw.
Tasman have stumbled after a strong start, and will be hoping they can catch their opponents on the hop.
TEAM WELLY FACE SOUTHERNERS
Team Wellington have the easiest task of the leading trio, as they host Southern United at Dave Farrington Park in the capital on Sunday [kickoff 2pm].
Southern have impressed at times this season, and have already picked up as many points as they managed in all of last season, but the defending champions should be too strong for them.
MID-TABLE CLASH IN CHRISTCHURCH
Canterbury United host Hawke’s Bay United at English Park in Christchurch [kickoff 2pm] in the last of Sunday’s games.
The visitors are likely to be without their coach Brett Angell, who was sent off in Hawke’s Bay’s draw with Tasman last weekend, and could find themselves slipping away from the top four with a loss.
They currently sit eighth, with nine points, one fewer than Canterbury, Southern and Waita¯kere, and two fewer than Eastern Suburbs, who combine to make the middle of the table rather congested.
WANDERERS CHASE FIRST WIN
Last-placed Hamilton Wanderers are on the verge of finishing 2017 without a win, but will fancy their chances of getting one when they travel south to play the Wellington Phoenix reserves on Saturday [kickoff 1pm].
Ricki Herbert is up against the club he helped start for the first time since leaving, in a sense, and he would like nothing more than to come away with three points.
Wanderers’ last win came almost a year ago against Hawke’s Bay, and they will be desperate to end a bleak year on a high.