PREVIEW: Friday’s Dominion Road Derby set to get Northern League underway

posted in: News, Northern League |

Defending champions Auckland City aim to extend their winning streak against neighbours Auckland United to five matches when the match starts the Northern League season under Friday night lights at Keith Hay Park.

The Dominion Road Derby, as the match is called, kicks off at 7.15pm and will be streamed live and free by FIFA+ (look for the link below).

Main photo: A large crowd is expected at Keith Hay Park, renovated for last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, for the season opener.

The teams met twice in the Northern League last year, and twice in the Men’s National League, with Auckland City winning all four games.

*Gerard Garriga … ‘the first game is always the most important.’ Photo: Andrew Skinner / Phototek.*

City midfielder Gerard Garriga told Auckland City’s website: “The team is really focused for it and we are quite ambitious, and we will try to compete for all the competitions that we are going to play this year.

“We have another start, and we want to do well and want to keep winning in the Northern League, and the first game is always the most important, especially in a big derby game.

“We know it’s going to be tough; they are going to be ready for it, and it’s going to be a very interesting game to watch.”

*Auckland United coach José Figueira … ‘new players have integrated well.’ Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.*

Auckland United head coach José Figueira goes into the derby against his former club with an upbeat approach.

“We’ve had a great seven or eight weeks together now (with a) new-looking squad,” he told supporters through the club’s YouTube channel.

“I’m delighted to say that all the new faces have integrated into the team really well and I’m excited to see what we can do with this young, exciting group of players this season.

“We couldn’t have wished for a better game, to be honest, and I think it will be an exciting game to be a part of, a game that all the players and staff look forward to.”

Big weekend for United

Auckland United’s women’s team play in the final of the OFC Women’s Champions League in the Solomon Islands on Saturday (5pm NZT).

The New Zealand national champions meet Hekari United at the National Stadium, Honiara.

Summer movements

Here are the key transfers in/out at both clubs.

Auckland United

Ins
Boyd Curry (Portland Timbers, United States)
Charlie Beale (Wellington Phoenix/Lower Hutt City)
Nathan Garrow (Bay Olympic)
Joshua Tollervey (Wellington Phoenix/Lower Hutt City)
Ben Wallace (Wellington Phoenix/Lower Hutt City)
Oliver Fay (Ljungskile SK, Sweden)
Kurtis Mogg (returning from 2022 injury)
Codey Phoenix (Birkenhead United)

Outs
Fumiya Ito (moved to Japan)
Yousif Al-Kalisy (moved to Dubai)
Mack Waite (not signed)
Nicolas Zambrano (moved to Otago)
Josh Redfearn (Glenorchy Knights, Tasmania)
DeAndre Vollenhoven (Eastern Lions, Victoria)
Sione Fa’apoi (Brunswick City, Victoria)
Noah Billingsley (Eastern Suburbs)
Everton O’Leary (returns to Birkenhead United after loan)
Stephan White (Ellerslie)

Auckland City

Ins
Joe Ridley (Middlesbrough, England)
Nabil Begg (Police FC, Fiji)
Robert Tipelu (Bay Olympic)

Outs
Emiliano Tade (Western Springs)
Aidan Carey (Western Springs)
Oliver Colloty (Wellington Olympic)
Jordy Tasip (Ifira Black Bird, Vanuatu)
Takuya Iwata (retired)

Defender Timothy Boulet, signed late last year but yet to make his Northern League debut, is unavailable as he was on international duty for Vanuatu who lost 6-0 to Guinea, of West Africa.