A-League: The Tackle addresses the contrasting fortunes of two New Zealand clubs
Auckland FC’s premiership win in their debut A-League Men’s season underscores the contrasting fortunes of New Zealand’s A-League two clubs. Robbie Slater and Marco Monteverde assess the situation in The Tackle.
Football
Don't miss out on the headlines from Football. Followed categories will be added to My News.
As Auckland FC celebrated the premiership in its first A-League Men’s season, it highlighted the difference of the fortunes for the competition’s two New Zealand clubs.
Robbie Slater and Marco Monteverde assess the situation in The Tackle.
KIWI CONTRASTS
The contrast in the state and fortunes of New Zealand’s two A-League clubs could not have been starker on the weekend.
In front of a big crowd at Go Media Stadium on Sunday, Auckland FC – who beat Perth Glory 1-0 – was basking in the glory of its amazing achievement of winning the A-League premiership in its first season in the competition.
The Black Knights deserve every plaudit they get for dominating the competition all season, and they now have the chance to clinch the double by clinching the championship in next month’s finals series.
The only downer is that Auckland is ineligible to play in next season’s AFC Champions League Elite competition – the lucrative reward normally earned by winning the A-League premiership – because New Zealand is part of the Oceania Football Confederation.
It’s a rule that the Asian Football Confederation should change considering the Black Knights play in an Australian competition.
Regardless, there is no taking away from what Auckland has already achieved under former Sydney FC coach Steve Corica.
It’s a whole lot more than the Black Knights’ Kiwi rivals Wellington, whose poor season hit another low on Saturday when the Phoenix were beaten 1-0 by the struggling Brisbane Roar on a dodgy pitch at a near-empty Suncorp Stadium.
The difference in atmospheres between that game and Auckland’s premiership-winning celebration on Sunday could not have been greater.
What should hurt the Phoenix even more about Auckland’s success is that it was only last season that Wellington finished second on the ladder and only fell a week short of playing in the grand final.
The entry of Auckland into the competition should have prompted the Phoenix to build on last season’s effort to show the Black Knights they weren’t going to be overshadowed in the battle for Kiwi bragging rights.
However, the Phoenix have instead gone backwards at such an alarming rate that only the Roar and Perth Glory, whose performances this season are among the poorest in A-League history, are behind them on the ladder.
And next month, while Auckland will be playing in the finals series, the Phoenix will be forced to take part in playoffs featuring the A-League’s bottom four teams for the right to take part in next season’s Australia Cup.
That’s how bad things have become for the Phoenix.
Hopefully, Auckland’s success will be a wake-up call for Wellington, who have kept faith in coach Giancarlo “Chief” Italiano by offering him a new contract, albeit just for next season before an option clause kicks in.
“I’m more assured now after what’s happened this season that I can steer the club to where it needs to be and we can make a tilt for the title,” Italiano said.
They are fighting words that Italiano needs to back up.
In contrast, Auckland’s billionaire owner Bill Foley has already delivered on the promise he made in March last year ahead of the team’s entry into the A-League in the 2024-25 season.
“(We’re) not being here just to make up the numbers,” Foley said at that time.
And he’s now warned that the Black Knights are far from finished.
“What the team has achieved is monumental, and our ambition is now to do the double as we now look towards the finals in May,” Foley said.
LUCRATIVE REWARD FOR SECOND
Auckland’s premiership win has ensured there is plenty at stake – namely a place in the lucrative AFC Champions League Elite competition – in the battle for second spot on the A-League ladder.
Melbourne City’s failure to beat Adelaide United on Saturday night has ensured the race for second won’t be decided until the final weekend of the regular season.
A City home win over Sydney FC next Saturday will secure them second place.
However, anything less than a victory will leave City vulnerable, particularly considering the current form of Western Sydney Wanderers, as well as Western United bouncing back to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over Sydney FC on Sunday.
The Wanderers are undefeated in their past 11 matches, and should have beaten Newcastle by a whole lot more than 1-0 on Saturday night.
It’s a shame that all the matches in the final round of the regular season aren’t kicking off at the same time, as is the case in most leagues around the world.
There is a chance that by the time the Wanderers meet Macarthur FC in a derby at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, second spot might already be out of reach because of games taking place earlier that day - City’s clash against Sydney FC, and Western United’s battle with Auckland FC.
A final round with all games being played at the same time, or at least matches whose results have direct consequences on each other, is something the APL should consider next season.
Of course that would mean co-operation from the A-League’s broadcaster, Network 10/Paramount Plus, who unfortunately hold the power under the terms of the current broadcast deal.
MARINERS MOVES
Will Mark Jackson remain in charge of the Central Coast Mariners next season?
Despite remaining contracted to the club, Jackson is understood to be extremely frustrated with the freeze that has been placed on bringing new talent to the Mariners next season.
Jackson knows his squad needs strengthening after this season’s failed title defence, but his hands are tied and you wouldn’t blame him for leaving if a better offer came his way.
It’s understood that one of the players on the radar for the club is former Real Sociedad and Real Madrid midfielder Asier Illarramendi.
And the 35-year-old ex-Spanish international, who hasn’t played since parting ways with American outfit FC Dallas last year, wants to join the Mariners for a price that shouldn’t break the bank.
TEAM OF THE WEEK
(4-2-1-3): Max Vartuli (Adelaide United); Hiroki Sakai (Auckland FC), Dan Hall (Auckland FC), James Donachie (Western United)), Kasey Bos (Melbourne Victory); Angus Thurgate (Western United), Ryan Teague (Melbourne Victory); Zinedine Machach (Melbourne Victory); Marlee Francois (Auckland FC), Zac Sapsford (Western Sydney Wanderers), Nicolas Milanovic (Western Sydney Wanderers). Coach: John Aloisi (Western United).
Player of the week: Ryan Teague (Melbourne Victory)
Originally published as A-League: The Tackle addresses the contrasting fortunes of two New Zealand clubs
Apology rejected, commentary storm erupts
Ian Wright has condemned Eni Aluko’s comments about the struggles of females in the sports broadcasting world, which was quickly met with swift backlash.
Sydney FC star under injury cloud
A key member of Sydney FC’s side is battling a groin injury ahead of one of the Sky Blues’ most important games of the A-League season.