Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Saturday, 2 May, 5pmÂ
Written by Jonno Ross
The tension. The nerves. The fear. The hope. Finals football has arrived in Auckland for the second time in two years. Auckland FC against Melbourne City, and there are no second chances. One team goes through to the semi-final, the other team goes home. Who will rise to the occasion? We will find out on Saturday night.
MATCH RECAP
Last weekendâs game against Sydney FC was intense. A must-win game for us in order to go straight through to the semi-final, as well as a week off. Unfortunately, it wasnât to be. We finished with a 2-2 draw, but there are plenty of positives to carry into the Elimination Final. Twice we found ourselves trailing, and twice we showed the grit and determination to fight back and salvage a result.
Again, the result wasnât one we wanted, and we had to wait until the Melbourne City vs. Adelaide United result to determine our future. We needed City to draw or win, but Adelaide scored with the last kick of the game to win – absolutely deflating for players and fans alike. However, we move on. A massive game and another historic day for the club await us on Saturday afternoon.
MATCH PREVIEW
Melbourne City will be no easy feat this weekend. The club has experience in finals football and have won the Championship twice in their history. Plus, they are the current holders of the famous ‘Toilet Seat’. City like Auckland have had a topsy-turvy season, winning only 10 games out of the 26 played, and just sneaking a sixth spot on the ladder to make the playoffs.Â
Auckland can only top Melbourneâs win record by one, having won 11 of 26. However, the form guide goes straight out the window when it comes to this stage of the season – anything can happen.Â
The head-to-head results against Melbourne City in the past have been a mixed bag, which makes it difficult to predict a winner between the sides. Weâve played them four times, winning twice, drawing once, and losing just the one. Fun fact (and fingers crossed it happens again), the two times weâve beaten City, weâve won both by three goals to nil.Â
Another great statistic when it comes to this fixture – Guillermo May comes up against his favourite team to score against. Heâs scored in three games against City, and we havenât lost a game in which heâs scored. That bodes well for Auckland FC on Saturday afternoon. May netted twice against Sydney FC last weekend – hereâs hoping heâs found his goal-scoring form in time for finals football, and haunt Melbourne City once again.Â
If we DO go by the form guide, things donât look good on paper for Auckland. They havenât won a game in their last five attempts. The last win came all the way back on March 14th against NewcastleâĤ That’s something that needs to change now. Donât be surprised to see this one go to extra time and possibly penalties. Our team are the draw specialists in the league, having drawn a staggering 9 times – the most out of any team in the league. For the neutral, penalty kicks in front of the Port would be next-level entertainment. For the fans, not so much, and fingernails will be chewed off.
Going by the form guide, Melbourne City come into this one as favourites. Theyâve won four out of their last five games – theyâre red hot right now. Marcus Younis has scored five in the last five games for City, and the 20-year-old will have no desire to take his foot off the gas. Auckland need to be extremely cautious with him.
However, previous form goes out the window in finals football. Thereâs much more at stake; itâs do or die for one of these teams.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Guillermo May loves playing against Melbourne City. Heâll look to add to his tally of five goals for the season.
Timing is everything. Nando Pijnaker and Jake Brimmer have passed their fitness tests and are named in the extended squad. That little bit more experience could be the difference between getting us over the line and into the semi-final next weekend.
Marcus Younis needs to be stopped. Five goals in five games is an exceptional run of form. If we halt him and prevent him from getting his eighth of the season, our chances look good for a result.
Top goalscorer for City, Max Caputo, is suffering a goalscoring drought at the moment. He leads his side with eight goals to his name, but hasnât scored in six games. Letâs hope he makes that seven come Saturday night!
See you there!
