Auckland City

Waikato FC

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by Bob Pearce at Kiwitea Street
asbpremiership.co.nz

AUCKLAND - Auckland City increased their lead at the top of the ASB Premiership to four points despite dropping points for the first time this season with a scoreless draw with Waikato FC at Kiwitea St.

The game ended in confusion when referee Matt Conger awarded a freekick to Auckland on the edge of the Waikato penalty area for goalkeeper Mark Fulcher fielding a backpass. But as the home team readied to take the kick, he appeared to change his decision on the prompting of one of the other officials.
 
And Auckland could rue a missed penalty in the 63rd after Ivan Vicelich was felled by Mike Kramer. Manel Exposito, not for the first time this season, failed to convert as Fulcher dived to save.

But nothing should be taken away from the performance of the young Waikato team against the Premiership leaders.

They fought for every ball and created a number of good chances. Jason Hicks drew good saves from Spoonley in the 15th and 45th minutes and there was constant pressure on some tired legs in the Auckland defence.
 
Soon after the break Auckland brought on Danko Koprivcic and Adam Dickinson and the balance of the game shifted. Auckland pushed forward and Waikato gradually retreated in defence, putting pressure on themselves.
 
But they harried and scrambled to such effect that there few clear chances—and when they did occur Fulcher played out of his skin with a very safe pair of hands and a series of brave interceptions at the feet of the attackers.
 
By the end both teams were probably happy for a draw. Auckland now have a week to rest their weary legs after three tough games in eight days and Waikato can take enormous credit as their season improves with every outing.
 
“Some of our players were still very tired,” said Auckland coach Ramon Tribulietx. “We created a lot of chances that we would normally put away but not today.
 
“Waikato played really well in the first half and they defended well in the second. But we lacked a bit of spark.
 
“I’m happy for them that they got a result. And I’m pleased that we took seven points out of nine in games so close together. Now we’ll give the players Tuesday off from training and prepare for Team Wellington next weekend.”

 
Waikato coach Declan Edge could hardly have been happier with the result against a team he is on record as rating the best in 25 years.
 
“We’ve taken flak early in the season but to come here and pick a point up against a team like Auckland makes me very happy,” he said.
 
“I thought we played well in the first half and in the second when they pressed us we dug deep and scrambled in defence, which is what good teams do.
 
“We’re still playing at only 60 per cent of what we have the potential to do and that’s with an average age of 18-and-a-half.”
   
Next Sunday, Waikato will take on third-placed Canterbury United at Porritt Stadium at 12.30 pm.

Auckland City

V

Waikato FC

1 Jacob Spoonley (GK)

1 Mark Fulcher (GK)

5 5 Angel Berlanga

2 Tyler Lissette

7 James Pritchett

6 Mike Kramer

8 David Mulligan

14 Josh Greene

9 Manel Exposito

10 Adam Thomas

13 Alex Feneridis

15 Jesse Edge

15 Ivan Vicelich

9 Michael Mayne

16 Albert Riera (Koprivcic, 58')

7 Jason Hicks

17 Adam McGeorge (Dickinson, 58')

19 Harry Edge (Jesse Smith, 59')

20 Emiliano Tade (Coombes, 73')

24 Ryan Thomas

22 Andrew Milne

21 Tyler Boyd (Awad, 73')

Substitutes

Substitutes

6 Chad Coombes (On, 73')

3 Jesse Smith (On, 59')

11 Daniel Koprivcic (On, 58')

8 Matteo Ballan (On, 84')

14 Adam Dickinson (On, 58')

23 Jordon Shaw

25 Mario Ilich

4 Mohammed Awad (On, 73')

26 Liam Anderson (RGK)

12 Danyon Drake

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

0 mins

A really youthful look to the contest with Auckland adding 16-yea-old Mario Ilich to their bench.

0 more mins

Drizzle all morning in Auckland (what's new) but it's just fine at the moment.

Waikato playing towards the clubhouse, almost no wind

1 min

First freekick to Waikato in midfield

3 mins

Quick break and crossfield pass sets up Tade but he loses control at finish.

7 mins

Auckland press on left but the final pass is wasted

9 mins

Both teams trying to play possession football with some nice touches but the final passes are going astray.

12 mins

Mulligan back pass puts Spoonley under pressure, then Waikato go close only for Ryan Thomas ruled offside 

14 mins

First corner to Auckland ,easily cleared.

15 mins

Good shot by Hicks, saved at full stretch by Spoonley

17 mins

Right wing corner fo Auckland, cleared as Vicelich leaps fo header

20 mins

Exposito in space but his pass goes astray.

22 mins

Left wing corner for Auckland,easy clearance

27 mins

Waikato freekick on edge of area as Boyd brought down by Berlanga. Yellow for kicking ball away.

28 mins

Freekick wide by Hicks.

30 mins

Pritchett crosses from right, too hard and Milne's attempt a volley flies wide.

33 mins

Yellow for Exposito tackle on Adam Thomas

34 mins

 Waikato's swarming defence is nullifying Auckland's attacks.

36 mins

McGeorge gets ball in net fo home team but offside 

39 mins

Good buildup by Waikato but Jesse Edge blasts ball over bar from edge of penalty area.

41 mins

Tade makes good ground on left, tempting cross but Exposito shot blocked by Mayne.

43 mins

Auckland besiege the Waikato goal but can't get shot in.

45 mins

First corner fo Waikato, easily foiled.

One minute to be added

45 plus one

Hicks shot saved by flying Spoonley

Halftime whistle no score but Waikato have more than held their own with the league leaders.

We're off again . No Halftime changes

46 mins

Early Auckland raid but drifts offside.

48 mins

Hicks again on target draws great save from Spoonley. At theothe end Fulcher has yet to make a save.

50 mins

Tade tries to curl shot

 round Fulcher but just wide.

55 mins

Shot by Exposito saved twiceby Fulcher and then cleared off line. Auckland's best effort.

56 mins

Viera off, McGeorge off. Dickinson and Koprivcic

57 mins

Cross by Dickinson, Fulcher saves from Exposito

58 mins

Harry Edge off, Jesse Smith.

60 mins

Penalty to Auckland after Vicelich brought down by Kramer. Yellow for

Yellow for Kramer

61 mins

Exposito takes penalty but Fulcher dives and saves.

65 mins

Freekick Waikato, Hicks short to Thomas fires wide.

73 mins

Coombes on for Tade, Awad on for Boyd

76 mins

Freekick to Auckland, metre to high from Mulligan

81 mins

 Shot by Vicelich blocked by Fulcher, Dickinson followup cleaed off line by Greene.

83 mins

Ryan Thomas off Ballan in.

85 mins

Ballan yellow fo tackle on fo Vicelich

90 mins

Four to be added.

90 mins plus three

Cross falls to Milne but feeble shot falls to Fulcher.

90 mins plus four

Waikato backpass to goalie, freekick on edge of area. Ref calls dropped ball Cleared. Everyonepuzzled.

90 plus seven

Final whistle. Scoreless draw but plenty of controversy.