MATCH REPORT: Auckland United FC vs Eastern Suburbs AFC | NLC | Round 2

WATCH: Auckland United FC Captain Ross Haviland on his side’s 1- 1 draw with Eastern Suburbs in Round 2 of the 2023 National League Championship.

Auckland United FC Premier Men have earned a share of the points in a tight contest vs Eastern Suburbs in Round 2 of the 2023 National League Championship at Keith Hay Park.

Unbeaten all year, Suburbs had the run of the play in the opening half hour with a stiff southerly at their backs before a resurgent United started to come alive in the last ten minutes before halftime.

Both sides had chances to score in what was a hard fought opening stanza, but they entered the sheds 0 - 0, United warming into their work with the promise of a strong tail wind to bring them home.

The wind certainly played it’s part again in the second half with United piling on the pressure at times, and after coming close on a couple of occassions, most notably when Vollenhoven hit the crossbar from long range, it wasn’t until the 74th minute that they would put one in the back of the net.

It was Nico Zambrano who broke the deadlock, the goal coming after he collected a loose ball from Josh Redfearn’s deflected attempt, following a tidy cross from Daniel Atkinson.

WATCH: Nico Zambrano breaks the deadlock to make it 1 - 0 vs Eastern Suburbs in Round 2 of the 2023 National League Championship.

United celebrated the goal well but the elation was somewhat short-lived as Suburbs hit back in the 84th minute to make it 1 - 1.

The intensity of the match remained high until the very end, with plenty of spice and 3 second half yellow cards for United before the referee called time on another hard fought draw.

In the end both sides had opportunities to win it, the best of which saw United go agonisingly close in the dying stages before for some heroic defensive work from Suburbs saw a shot cleared off the line.

Head Coach José Figueira had mixed feelings at the final whistle “it’s bittersweet, to be saying that I feel we dropped 2 points against such a quality side like Suburbs, it’s a testament to how well we are playing at the moment”.

Ross Haviland was equally disappointed after coming so close to inflicting on Suburbs their first defeat of the season “obviously a bit frustrated in the end, especially that clearance off the line, it’s little moments in games that make or break, so a bit frustrated but a point is better than none”.

Focus will now shift to another tough matchup next Saturday at home vs Christchurch United, who are two from two after wins over Eastern Suburbs and Phoenix Reserves.