Sunday, 8th March, 3pm
Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Written by Jonno Ross
Auckland FC appear to have their mojo back. An emphatic win against Melbourne City kept the team on track to achieve their target of back-to-back silverware, and we must keep that momentum driving us towards our target. This week, we come up against a struggling Perth side; however, we can’t write them off – they beat us in our previous encounter.
Redemption time for AFC!
Auckland FC’s 3-0 win over Melbourne City last week meant that we’ve gone four games undefeated, picking up three wins and a draw, putting pressure on the league leaders. It’s safe to say that the ‘rut’ is over, and we’re hitting our straps at the right time of the season.
At this exact stage of the competition last season, we were on 41 points. Right now, we have 35 points. Six points difference isn’t too bad, and that tells us we’re in for a shout of achieving something special again this season.
The win last weekend was a clutch win – after our result, Newcastle Jets had to beat Central Coast Mariners to keep their four-point lead at the top. However, to the delight of AFC and their fans, Newcastle could only muster a 0-0 draw, meaning the gap was closed to just two points.
It’s looking like the fixture between AFC and Newcastle next week could see the winners of that game put one hand on the Premiers Plate. We need to take things one game at a time. We need to focus on the job at hand first – Perth Glory, and that means pushing for the three points this weekend.
Auckland FC are on a four-game unbeaten streak and will look to make it five this weekend. The last time we went on a run like this was at the start of the season, which saw us go five undefeated before being stopped in our tracks by the Newcastle Jets. We’ll look to match that five-game run this weekend against Perth, but it’s not going to be an easy feat. In fact, the last time we lost a game, just so happens to have been against Perth Glory – they beat us 2-1 in the reverse fixture, scoring in the 90th minute to steal the points.
However, we have fond memories of the last time we played Perth at home. We had to win the game to secure the Premiers Plate, and thanks to Marlee François’ Olympico, scoring directly from the corner, we secured the win, and it was party time at Go Media Stadium.
Newcastle Jets are expected to beat the Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday night, which puts the pressure on AFC to win on Sunday afternoon to keep the gap to two points. We’re coming to the crunch time of the season, and the timing from the likes of Hall, May, and Randall finding form couldn’t have come at a better time. AFC are going to be a hard team to beat in the final third of the season if we continue building momentum.
It’s make or break now for Perth Glory. They currently sit 10th in the league on 21 points, 4 points off a finals football spot. A loss this weekend could see the gap increase to 7 points, putting a top-six spot out of reach, barring a miracle. Perth are on a four-game winless run, having not won in the whole month of February. The last time they won was against us. Since then, they’ve lost twice and drawn twice.
Perth are lacking in the goal-scoring department, too. They’ve averaged one goal per game in their last five, compared to Auckland, who’ve scored 11 times in their last five games, averaging just over two goals a game.
The form guide bodes well for Auckland FC, and a win on Sunday against Perth sets up a colossal encounter with the Jets next weekend. We mustn’t get ahead of ourselves, though; we need to take it one game at a time.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jesse Randall is unstoppable at the moment; he bagged himself a goal and assisted Guillermo May with a beautiful cross last weekend. That brings his tally to nine goals and four assists this season, incredible stats for the young forward. He is currently leading the A-League’s Golden Boot as well.
For Perth, Jaiden Kucharski was a nightmare for AFC in the previous encounter against the Glory. His two goals wrapped up the three points, and even though he’s only scored three this season, we must make sure he’s not the thorn in our side this weekend.
FUN AT GO MEDIA STADIUM
AFC TAILGATE
AFC Tailgate has a new home in the LilyWorld Carpark, and now fans can drive straight in and set up in true tailgate style. The new location will continue to feature mini-football, picnic tables, garden games and barbeques for fans to use.
FAMILY FAN ZONE
Head down to the Family Fan Zone pre-match to check out the New Balance activation, where you can customise your gear with exclusive heat-pressed patches, created especially for the day. Keep an eye out around the stadium too – the t-shirt cannons will be in action, firing New Balance x AFC tees into the crowd. Stay ready… You never know where they’ll land.
WARM UP KIT
This special Women’s and Girls-themed fixture celebrates International Women’s Day – a moment to recognise, champion and elevate the women and girls who shape our game and our lives every day. To mark the occasion, each player will be wearing the name of an influential woman in their life on the back of their warm-up shirts. As well as the number 50, to acknowledge the 50-year ban on women and girls playing football in New Zealand, and honouring how far the game has come since.
THE NEXT 50
New Balance and Auckland FC are proud to launch The Next 50, a new initiative dedicated to ensuring the next generation of girls stays in the game. The Next 50 will support 50 grassroots girls aged 10–14, the critical age where participation drop-off in football is most likely. This initiative is about more than development; it’s about opportunity, belief, and creating a clear pathway forward. By keeping girls in the game longer, we’re helping them realise their potential and strengthening the future of women’s football from the ground up.
The 50 selected players will receive meaningful, season-long support, including a $500 New Balance football gear package, plus access to football camps, ongoing training, and structured development through Auckland FC programmes. Be sure to look out for the girls as benchwarmers pre-match and the honour guard as players walk out for kick-off.
