Auckland City FC - Thanks a Trillion

My write up and photos from today's Auckland City vs Mont Dore game are here. I have used this post to take a bit of a swipe at Oceania...

http://in-the-back-of-the.net/2013/04/13/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-oceania/

Enjoyable read thanks for that

Some interesting points raised, but a few misconceptions too.

For instance a team from New Guinea did win the O League (against Waitakere in 2010) and went to the Club World Cup and pocketed the $700,000 prizemoney. So it's not fair to say the O League money is all going to NZ.

Tahiti is going to the Confederations Cup representing Oceania and won $1.5 million to boot by beating the All Whites. So again, more Fifa prizemoney is being spread around Pacific Island football. They just have to win to get it.

While the result against Monte Dore was lopsided and more reflected ACFC's continued improvement, in past O League qualification games the results in the islands in particular have been close and reflect growing improvement of their teams. This is especially true in the Francophone areas and Solomon Islands. Only a few weeks ago Dragon of Tahiti earned a draw at Fred Taylor Paddock against the ASBP champions. 

Splitting up the widely spread Asian confederation would be viable but it's not going to happen as it would have to entail added Fifa voting rights.

Opening up the Fifa Club World Cup to Asian and A league teams would probably mean the end of NZ participation in the competition and losing that funding would probably mean the end of our national league as NZF shows no interest in investing in it. The current O League and CWC is a funding lifeline for our national league and as I've pointed out is spreading money around the Pacific.

ACFC versus AS Dragon ( 14 Tahitian internationals, i.e. practically the team representing Oceania in next Confed Cup) 3 pm Trusts Stadium today. Free entry to ACFC season ticket holders.

So if ACFC comfortbaly beat Dragon, who are effectively the Tahiti team going to the Confederations Cup, then Herbert should resign the All Whites as well for letting the AW lose to them.

 The All whites did not lose to Tahiti. They didn't even play them.

Flares optional.

It is Henderson ...so I wouldve thought obligatory....

Ok they lost to New Caledonia and they lost to Tahiti - amounts to almost the same thing.

But the Phoenix A beat Waitakere, who beat you guys to the title so how can you claim to have Ricki out when when you are no better than a reserve side. - amounts to almost the same thing.

Losing 2-1 in the 84th minute.

www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/53178598-330e-4f8f-913f-792f5b29d4a1/language/en-US/Default.aspx

bad news for Waitak.

3-1. Game. Set. Match.

3-1... What's going on, 12-2 then lose 3-1, I can't understand the O-League sometimes

This is awkward.

3-1 Dragon!

So if Waitakere draw with Dragon, and Auckland lose to Dragon, does that make Waitakere the equal 3rd best team in world? Amounts to almost the same thing...

I'd be interested to know how the centre-backing superstar Mario Bilen went in this game.

I have no idea how the table looks but is there now an incentive to manipulate the rest of the games so that waitak wins it and ASBP teams keep receiving that cash?

Why does everything come back to the Phoenix with you guys? Even when youre playing O league. We don't even play in the same competition, I don't understand the 'rivalry' you seem to act like we have. 

You must have enjoyed this result.

It goes to show - the island teams are getting better. First Hekari oust Waitakere from the O League in 2010, then New Caledonia upset the All Whites and knock them out of the Confederations Cup and now effectively the Tahiti national side (as Dragon) draw away to Waitak and beat City.

It certainly makes this weekend's Kiwitea Street clash between City and Waitak interesting. City really need to win this one. You'll just have to grit your teeth and try to ignore the passionate ACFC fans JV. 

I still think City and Waitak will make the top two in their group but Dragon could snatch second spot with home games to come. That'll be the big question - how will City and Waitak cope in the heat of Tahiti?

Does make you wonder if there was more than just O League tv scheduling to Oceania's decision to take City's home game against Dragon away from the pressure cooker of Kiwitea Street and play it at a more neutral venue at a time when many working City fans couldn't attend. A desire to see City's stranglehold on the O League broken perhaps?

Uhhh no.... That's just conspiracy and bitterness talking, of course it didn't make a big difference. Unless you agree with Bily Harris.....

Absolutely !!! Theres no such thing as " Home advantage " every commentator knos thus !!

ACFC fans travelled... and sang and cheered... and drowned (momentary) sorrows. Next weekend should be a cracker!

It's football innit.

Couldn't handle the rain.

Actually no. As I said, I don't care who wins the O League, as long as its an NZ team and the funds come back here. What I am enjoying is watching you fap about now after the 'should comfortable beat them' and now its 'oh the home ground advantage' conspiracy.

You were not at the game, neither was I. One of your fellows has posted that you played like shit and were beaten by a better side. For once in your miserable life, actually admit you were beaten by a better team. This is why no one likes your lot. Cause you carry on like prize clowns.

I think JV if you had the integrity to put your real name to your posts you'd be a little less prone to abuse of ACFC fans.

My life is neither miserable nor am I a prize clown. But you are often fast and free with the personal abuse, while hiding. Lighten up for heaven's sake.

Oh so if the Phoenix were moved from the caketin to Lower Hutt for a crutial game and had to play at 3pm on a weekday you'd all be saying "makes no difference?" Come on. It's a shame the game wasn't played at Kiwitea Street on a weekend, it should have been. In reality City vs Dragon has turned into the big match-up of the group.

Home advantage does matter for crutial games like this. Having said that ACFC had enough chances to beat Dragon and actually I like the fact the Island teams are becoming more competitive. Good on them. It would have been a great game in compact Kiwitea Street full of noisy ACFC fans.