Draws enough for Waitakere and Wellington on final day
This week�s NZFC highlights�
- One point at Carisbrook is all Waitakere United need to be confirmed as Minor Premiers for the second year running. In all likelihood, Waitakere could even afford a narrow loss against Otago but Waitakere will want to celebrate in style rather than allow their rivals even the faintest sniff of the Minor Premiership.
- Team Wellington and Auckland are battling for second spot and home advantage for the preliminary final (next Saturday between the same teams) but should Waitakere suffer a stumble of major proportions, then the winner of this clash may even snatch the minor title from under their nose. Also on the line is a potential spot in the 2009 O-League (New Zealand�s second spot is awarded to the league runners-up should the NZFC Minor Premiers also win the Grand Final). Wellington have never beaten Auckland but they might settle for a draw this week as it�s good enough to secure second place.
- YoungHeart Manawatu entertain Canterbury United with both sides playing catch-up. After a disappointing season for last year�s league runners-up, Manawatu can overhaul Waikato with a win to finish fifth whereas cellar-dwellers Canterbury United can still climb of the foot of the table with wins on Sunday and in their rescheduled Round 14 home game against Hawke's Bay United (April 13).
- After draws in the first two meetings a win for Hawke's Bay United or Waikato FC will clinch the series honours in Napier. A point will see Waikato hold onto fifth place while a win for Hawke�s Bay could put their season in perspective by reaching a tally good enough for third place a few seasons ago.
Visit www.nzfc.co.nz for full coverage.
Auckland City v Team Wellington
Kiwitea St, Auckland
Sunday 6 April
Kickoff:
3pm
Referee: Mike Hester (Auckland)
Head to Head: Played 11. Auckland 10 wins, 1 draw.
Round 7: Team Wellington 1 Auckland
City 1
Round 12: Auckland City 2 Team Wellington
0
Auckland City (WLWLW)
The players: Ben Sigmund is halfway through a two match suspension and Greg Uhlmann will miss this game thanks to the red card he received against Waikato in Round 19. James Pritchett and Riki van Steeden are injured, allowing George Suri and Salesh Kumar to come back after missing the last NZFC match a fortnight ago. Chan-Goo Yoon comes in for Alex Feneridis.
The vital statistics: A point against Auckland would see Auckland equal their highest ever points tally (48) and their lowest ever league placing (third).
Auckland have never scored less than 50 goals in a season (currently 41). The least amount of goals conceded by Auckland in one season is 24 (currently 14).
Squad List: 1-Earnest Wong (GK), 2-Joel Mathews, 3-Craig Wylie, 6-Ki-Hyung Lee, 8-Chad Coombes, 9-Paul Urlovic, 10-Grant Young, 12-Tamati Williams (GK), 14-Keryn Jordan, 16-George Suri, 18-Salesh Kumar, 23-Chan-Goo Yoon, 24-Sam Campbell, 25-Adam McGeorge, 27-John Niyonsaba.
Contact: Colin Tuaa (Head Coach) 021 734 380
Team Wellington (WWWWW)
The players: Golden boot leader Graham Little is back from suspension to lead Wellington�s line, and Peter Halstead and Wiremu Patrick have also completed their respective bans. Tim Schaeffers, Sam Blackburn and Michel Eager make way. Luis Corrales is two goals behind team mate Graham Little in the golden boot race.
The vital statistics: Wellington�s seven match winning streak equals a record held jointly by Waitakere (twice this season) and Auckland (04-05).
Squad List:
1-Sasha Nathu (GK), 3-Steve Gulley, 4-Jamie Farrington, 5-Peter Howe, 6-Adam Birch (Captain), 9-Daniel Ellensohn, 10-Luis Corrales, 13-Karl Whalen, 14-Darren Cheriton, 15-Graham Little, 16-Raf De Gregorio, 17-Wiremu Patrick, 18- Peter Halstead, 19-Sean Douglas, 21-Cole Tinkler, 24-Phil Imray (GK),
Contact: Stu Jacobs (Head coach) 021 724 944
Hawke�s Bay United v Waikato FC
Park Island, Napier
Sunday 6 April
Kickoff:
3pm
Referee: Peter O�Leary (Auckland)
Head to Head: Played 11: Hawke�s Bay 2
wins, Waikato 6 wins, 3 draws
Round 7: Waikato FC 1 Hawke�s Bay United 1
Round 12: Hawke�s Bay United 0 Waikato FC 0
Hawke�s Bay United (WWLWL)
The players: Ian Hogg�s red card against Waitakere rules him out this weekend, while Cole Peverley (unavailable) and Leon Birnie (injured) are also missing. Jimmy Cudd, Dean Johnston and reserve goalkeeper Shaun Peta all come into the 16.
The vital statistics: Three more points will equal the highest points haul for a fourth placed team � 31 points � a tally that would have been good enough for the playoffs in the first two seasons.
Squad list:
1-Mitch O�Brien (GK), 2-Chris Davies, 4-Greig Henslee, 5-Campbell Parkin, 7-Stu Wilson, 8-Chris McIvor, 9-Sam Messam, 10-Jeremy Brockie, 11-Graham Fyfe, 12-Dean Johnston, 14-Chris Greatholder, 15-Stu Hogg, 16-Jimmy Cudd, 17-David Gearey, 20-Sam Jenkins, 23-Shaun Peta (RGK).
Contact: Jonathan Gould (Head coach) 021 734 919
Waikato FC (LLDLL)
The players: Sam Wilkinson is free to play again having completed his suspension. Luke Findley and Dale Beattie return to the matchday squad with Stanley Waita missing the cut.
The vital statistics: Waikato�s last win came away from home on February 24 (Round 15). No team has picked up fewer points in their last five matches than Waikato.
Squad List:
1-Danny Robinson (GK), 3-Hone Fowler, 4-Nick Robson, 5-Aaron Scott, 6-Sam Wilkinson, 7-Joe Simpkins 9-Michael Gwyther, 10-Luke Findley, 11-Paul Stewart, 14-Shaun van Rooyen, 15-Steven Holloway, 17-Stu Watene, 21-Chris Wood, 23-Dale Beattie, 24-Matt Friel, 25-Che Bunce.
Contact: Roger Wilkinson (Head Coach) 021 0251 0659
Otago United v Waitakere United
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Sunday 6 April
Kickoff:
3pm
Referee: Chris Kerr (Auckland)
Head to Head: Played 11, Otago 1 win, Waitakere
9 wins, 1 draw.
Round 7: Waitakere United 4 Otago United 0
Round 15: Otago United 1 Waitakere United 1
Otago United (LLWLL)
The players: Andy Pickering�s red card against Team Wellington rules him out but Terry Phelan has served his suspension and takes his place in the dugout.
The vital statistics: With only 11 in the �goals for� column, Otago are still six goals shy of Hawke�s Bay United�s unenviable record for the least goals scored in a season (17 in 05-06)
Squad list:
1-Liam Little (GK), 2-Nick Dale, 3-Terry Phelan, 4-Hayden Gunn, 5-Colin Falvey, 8-Mike Flaws, 9-John Lang, 10-Mike Eisenhut, 11-Andy Coburn, 12-Aaron Burgess, 13-Nick Tarrant (GK), 15-John Chisholm, 16-Jesse Malloy, 18-Mike Smith, 19-Matt Stares, 20-Morgan Day.
Contact: Terry Phelan (Head Coach) � 027 230 0095
Waitakere United (WWWWW)
The players: Benjamin Totori has completed his suspension but Danny Hay still has one game left in his two match ban. Neil Emblen joins Hay on the sidelines after being sent off against Hawke�s Bay. Jason Hayne comes in for Darren Bazeley but with knocks and niggles still to be assessed after the O-League clash with Auckland on Wednesday night, there may be more changes.
The vital statistics: After becoming the first team to reach 50 points in a season Waitakere can set the benchmark even higher with three more points. They look set to break their own league record for the fewest goals conceded (currently 12, record 19) and can set a new mark for consecutive wins with their eighth on the trot.
Squad List: 1-Richard Gillespie (GK), 2-Jonathan Perry,7-Jason Hayne, 8-Commins Menapi, 9-Benjamn Totori, 10-Allan Pearce, 11-Neil Sykes, 12-Roy Krishna, 13-Daniel Koprivcic, 14-Hoani Edwards 15-Chris Bale, 17-Jake Butler, 21-Graham Pearce, 22-Simon Eaddy (GK), 24-Tim Myers, 33-Paul Seaman
Contact: Chris Milicich (Football Manager) 021 222 6959
YoungHeart Manawatu v Canterbury United
FMG Stadium, Palmerston North
Sunday 6 April
Kickoff:
3pm
Referee: Neil Fox (Auckland)
Head to Head: Played 12. Manawatu 8 wins, Canterbury
1 win, 3 draws.
Round 7:
YoungHeart Manawatu 3 Canterbury
United 2
Round
12: Canterbury
United 2 YoungHeart Manawatu 3
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YoungHeart Manawatu (LLLLW)
The players: Pablo Yackson, Prince Quansah and Peni Finau have all served their suspensions and return along with Trent Watson. Reserve goalkeeper James Pamment drops out, Scott Robson is injured and Gustavo Saralegui and Daniel Aliaga miss out. Uruguayan marksman Gouzalo Nieres is just one goal behind Graham Little in the golden boot race.
The vital statistics: Manawatu�s defence is the leakiest in the league - six goals worse than Canterbury�s. YoungHeart have won the last eight league encounters with Canterbury, although midway through that winning run they lost a playoff game to the Dragons on penalties at the end of the 2005/06 season.
Squad list: 1-Andrew Bailey (GK), 3-Pablo Yackson, 4-Peni Finau, 5-Trent Watson, 6-Matt Adams, 7-Gouzalo Nieres, 8-Nathan Cooksley, 9-Osea Vakatalesau, 11-Ian Sandbrook, 15-Prince Quansah, 16-Ian Robinson, 17-Dominic Rowe, 20-Adam Cowan, 21-Tim Richardson, 22-Fin Milne, 23-Daniel Chavez.
Contact: Shane Rufer (Head coach) 021 622 101
Canterbury United (LWLDL)
The players: Gareth Turnbull replaces Geoff McIntyre and Rhys Parker is added to the squad.
The vital statistics: Should Otago lose to Waitakere, then two wins in Canterbury�s final two matches would see the Dragons off the bottom of the table.
Squad List: 1-Chris Sinclair (GK), 2-Glenn Squire, 3-Andy Pitman, 4-Bill Robertson, 5-Michael Bothwell, 6-Garry McDermott, 7-Michael Fifii, 10-Jamie Smith, 11-Tom Lancaster, 13-Rhys Parker, 15-Rhodri Payne, 17-Ryan Faichnie, 19- Matt Boyd, 21-Sam Jasper, 22-Scott Dunn (GK), 23-Gareth Turnbull.
Contact: Korouch Monsef (Head coach) 021 998195
Facts and Figures
Name
P
W
D
L
For
Ag
GD
Pts
Waitakere United
20
16
2
2
49
12
37
50
Team Wellington
20
15
2
3
49
18
31
47
Auckland City
20
15
2
3
41
14
27
47
Hawke's Bay United
19
8
4
7
26
29
-3
28
Waikato FC
20
5
4
11
22
32
-10
19
YoungHeart Manawatu
20
5
2
13
31
52
-21
17
Otago United
20
3
3
14
11
41
-30
12
Canterbury United
19
1
3
15
15
46
-31
6
Golden Boot Leaders12 � Graham Little (Team Wellington)
11 � Gouzalo Nieres (YoungHeart Manawatu)
10 � Luis Corrales (Team Wellington)
10 � Benjamin Totori (Waitakere United)
10 � Allan Pearce (Waitakere United)
8 � Bryan Little (Auckland City)
8 � Commins
Menapi (Waitakere United)
7 � Steven Holloway (Waikato FC)
TAB Odds
Tournament winner
$2.10 Waitakere United
$2.50 Auckland City
$4.25 Team Wellington
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I didn't realise Nieres had scored that many and Totori that few by his standards. The 3 that Nieres got last week would have helped. One of the bright spots of a disappointing season for Manawatu.
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it's sad to see how very few kiwis are goalscorers in the NZFC. teams really do rely on imports in this area. Why are there so few Kiwi goalscorers?
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it's sad to see how very few kiwis are goalscorers in the NZFC. teams really do rely on imports in this area. Why are there so few Kiwi goalscorers?
Because we are an amateur sport and therefore less time for specialist training so the youth at amateur clubs have less time to get good enough to play forwards at a high enough level. Therefore if we have a youth who has goal scoring abilities, we hope they would be either self-motivated like Wynton Rufer, and look to go overseas to get that specialist training in a professional club.
It also show how weak our defences are when faced against import strikers because of the pace and skill. The defenders also need more specialist work that would only get in a fully professional environment.
That is the difference between Amateur and full Professional. The time and quality that is looked at during a course of a player's career.
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