Auckland United. First time a NZ team has taken part.
Could be a tricky tourney to win, in the heat of the Solomons and if there is one particular Islands club team just stacked with international players, ie a de facto national team.
Auckland United. First time a NZ team has taken part.
Could be a tricky tourney to win, in the heat of the Solomons and if there is one particular Islands club team just stacked with international players, ie a de facto national team.
full strength Auckland United should be ok - but I notice a couple of their players from last season including a goal scorer in the NL final has been announced at WCR so will be interesting to see if they have new players - Chloe Knott? for example in the team.
Auckland United. First time a NZ team has taken part.
Could be a tricky tourney to win, in the heat of the Solomons and if there is one particular Islands club team just stacked with international players, ie a de facto national team.
full strength Auckland United should be ok - but I notice a couple of their players from last season including a goal scorer in the NL final has been announced at WCR so will be interesting to see if they have new players - Chloe Knott? for example in the team.
Squad announced https://www.aucklandunitedfc.org.nz/news/auckland-united-fc-premier-womens-squad-announced-for-ofc-champions-league First glance, lots of outs from last year replaced with youth. Also only 1 GK
AU were 1-0. Then their keeper makes a clumsy foul in the box after a hopeful Labasa long ball foward. Labasa convert the pen, then ref looks to disallow it, but gets some audio advice that goal should stand. OFC level comical. 1-1 with 10 mins to go.
The 1-0 win for United has guaranteed semi-final status, with the outcome of today’s second Group B match between Labasa Women FC and AS Academy Féminine determining whether the New Zealanders will play Hekari United FC or Tafea FC next week
Is the women's competition so very different from the men's that the NZ National League champions are being pushed to their limits by island teams?
Yeah pretty similar. Bearing in mind they are playing the best footballers these Islands nations have. For all we know some of these Island club teams, could just be stacked national teams in disguise.
The best 50 odd NZ footballers (especially in the mens game, but increasingly also in the womens as well) are either overseas or in the A League.
Is the women's competition so very different from the men's that the NZ National League champions are being pushed to their limits by island teams?
If they had asked you to go as backup goalkeeper (they don't have one) would you have gone? Two weeks in Solomon Islands. Answer is probably no as you have commitments.
If you compare team to what played in final in November, half the team are not there. Those that are there are mainly school or university students no doubt studying online. I don't think there is anyone there with a LinkedIn profile!. Throw in the heat and the older opposition and it levels the playing field.
I am sure it would be a very different result if AU had played these in NZ immediately after the National League grand final in November.
