Auckland City FC - Thanks a Trillion

sorry wasn't referencing that behaviour at all - someone was debating live vs TV numbers.

There was one particular F bomb aimed at the referee, that could probably have been heard from the airport. 

I said "come on Lino, that has to be a yellow" - he turned and laughed, thinking I was kidding. 

Please?

If anything it was worth noting as he plays for teams we support and if we are saying something needs to be done at SSP level then the same goes for HAL. 

I guess it's an easier sell to crack down in SSP as people will stop going particularly families and now is the time clubs are really trying to engage with the fans. HAL might be a bit different as people will still turn up or watch it on TV. 

Ultimately I think it's so ingrained in the sport (referee abuse/crowding along with diving etc) that it's an uphill battle. Good luck telling your average SSP player they can't when it's prevalent in all leagues around the world. I'm all for trying though BTW. 

Hudson-Wihongi on crutches after training injury. Out of Club World Cup.

Dom Post today

Auckland peeps! Ok I know this may not go down well with some of ya...but...

Any suggestions for charities or clubs to donate some memberships too, where the people would be likely to go to the games in the North half of the Island?

Also Matt is arranging for some one off Welly tickets to be donated to good causes too.

If you're a bit better off than most drop a couple of $$ in here: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/phoenixnorthernmem...

Cheers!

City win 1st warm up match 4-1 v Hong Kong Rangers. Kim 1 Moreira 2 Lewis.

City first team to arrive in Japan - FIFA website leading story:

http://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/news/y=2016/m=11/...

"The Navy Blues are a step closer to knowing the identity of their opponents after Urawa Red Diamonds defeated Kashima Antlers 1-0 in the J.League championship final, first leg. The second leg will be played on Saturday.

“It's good to be here especially in a tournament that the team has played for the last five times,” said 19-year-old New Zealand international Clayton Lewis. “The game against the Japanese opponent is going to be tough, but our boys are well prepared and I'm looking forward to it.

“We just had a training match in Hong Kong, and will have eight days of preparation in Japan. It's good as we will be playing a warm-up game this Friday and we can also get used to this cold weather.”

ACFC take on Kashima Antlers at 11.30 PM (nz time). 

Since the first participation by a New Zealand club (2006), more than US$8 million ($11.23 million) has flowed into the coffers of the local game.

- Guaranteed prize money before Thursday's game: $US500,000
- Guaranteed prize money if Auckland City beat Kashima Antlers: $US1 million
- Total prize money earned by New Zealand clubs at Club World Cup, 2006-2009, 2011-2015: $US 8 million

Source: 

Starting in 7 minutes.

Startling lineup: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CzJUJMqUUAAQ_lE.jpg.

Anyone got a stream?

http://0dt.net/video/711426.html#

takes a bit for popups to dissapear

Good chance for Auckland there.

http://www.yopika.info/20161208/v-haha_sport_1_name-1515139-584901f1984065.06903220.html

Lewis better start finding feet

Great stuff so far from Auckland. Not by any means exciting, but they're doing the job. Hopefully they can keep it up.

I hope Ramon gets the nix job

They had a couple good moments and didn't look to bothered defensively... the Japan team seems to be cruising... hopefully they get a little anxious and start leaving gaps.

Very much in it still.

Good goal Auckland.

Great goal. Tade with the cross. He's been having a great game so far. Korean scoring against the Japanese. Come on Auckland!

Worth staying up for so far. 

After the pain of the Phoenix and NZ cricket team the last few weeks this would be nice... still 25 mins to go though.

Edit - excluding the Pakistan test...

argh

Bugger 1-1

Auckland tiring? Starting to get carved up.

Auckland still good for the counter....

Feel like if Auckland is going to win they need to do it in normal time.

Oh well, was a good effort

Was looking so good for a while. Dissapointing in the end.

Made Ramon looked good - nice little reminder to the NIX owners.

Team was organised, had good shape and clearly new the team plan.

With 20 minutes to go the game had that look about it Auckland worked hard and got tired but the other team were by far the side better side but lacked penetration  until the subs came on.AK City were pinned back for most of the game the fullbacks never over lapped once and the front three were average, Tade had a couple of moments  the player up front is so lazy De Vries ???????? has any body counted how many times Lewis gave the ball away,  best player was Kim

Lol. Taku got forward on runs a coupla times, and on the other side Darren White was superb covering. Front 3 average - compared to what? What were you expecting? Real Madrid? The Kiwitea St boys were leading against possibly the best team in Asia ffs.

Just interesting to see how far Kashima went after beating Auckland...all the way to the final and were leading a Real Madrid at one point and only lost in extra time....what could have been for Auckland I think ?

what was up with that penalty v ES? Was it a retake? Why?

Retake after initial save. Haven't seen a replay yet, but there was definitely encroachment into the area, and a few witnesses said they saw Rodic come off his line too, so either of those. Probably the second, given it was the lino (the same lino that was doing the Nix game with those offsides) who flagged it - and it came after ref oversaw treatment for an injury, so seemed a bit of a shock

seemed on his line. Akld encroached too (behind ref)

Poor positioning from the referee.

try watching it

From the stands (only seen it live) I imagine the lino called it for the keeper coming of his line. He looked it once he had dived but it's pretty marginal at best.

I'm inclined to believe the lino because contrary to recent opinion I've played a game under said lino in which she reffed very very well.

On a side note - I was of the understanding that she cannot lino NRFL games because her partner plays for Hamilton - so seems weird they excuse her for the NZFC.