Auckland United FC qualify for NZ National League
Auckland United FC Premier Men’s Captain Ross Haviland on victory over West Coast Rangers and National League qualification.
Auckland United FC Premier Men have qualified for the NZ National League with a thoroughly convincing 4-0 win over West Coast Rangers in Round 19 of the Northern League.
The men have joined our Premier Women’s team in qualifying once more - a repeat of the 2022 season and a proud achievement for the club.
Captain Ross Haviland said “it’s a huge achievement for the club, the club is young, it’s great for both the men & women to go back to back, as a club we really strive for greatness, and to have both men’s and women’s teams qualify for National League is a credit to what we are doing.”
On a bright & sunny Saturday afternoon the lads put on an entertaining display, clearly relishing being back on the incredible #1 surface at Keith Hay Park.
The football was free-flowing and the home support were treated to two first half goals, the first from Nico Zambrano (30)’ who finished off a fluid sweeping movement up the pitch, the second saw DeAndre Vollenhoven (41)’ pounce on a loose clearance and smash it into the top left hand corner of the net.
Nico Zambrano celebrates after scoring vs West Coast Rangers (Photo by Lucas Souza Leite).
Halftime refreshments were quickly followed by two more goals with Josh Redfearn (49)’ finishing after an initial shot from Zambrano was cleared by Rangers’ keeper straight to Redfearn, who made no mistake to lift his season tally to10 goals.
Jonah Pastiroff’s 53rd minute effort to make it 4-0 came after some incredible lead-up play from DeAndre Vollenhoven completely bamboozled two would-be Rangers’ defenders, leaving them for dead.
The dominance of the performance allowed coach José Figueira to clear the bench, handing 16-year-old AUFC Academy graduate Bronson Brown his debut in the 65th minute. It had already been a big week for the young man who had earlier made two appearances for the New Zealand U17 side vs New Caledonia, scoring in both games, although those heroics were not to be repeated on this occasion.
Auckland United FC coaching staff celebrate National League qualification following victory over Rangers (Photo by Lucas Souza Leite).
“I’m really happy for Bronson, actually, the old Ross would have kept going and dribbling, but I thought I could see him in the box so I tried to give him his first goal, but no to be” said Ross Haviland.
The side now face Western Springs, Melville United, and Eastern Suburbs in the final 3 rounds of Northern League season before a second run in the National League.
Captain Ross Haviland said “It’s great to secure National League with games to spare, we may be able to rest a few players now, a few injuries, a few niggles, so it’s very pleasing”.
