Tomorrow marks the start of round three of the Men’s National League Championship. This weekend will feature two matches on Saturday and three on Sunday.

Wellington Olympic vs Eastern Suburbs:

In the first match of the round, Wellington Olympic will host Eastern Suburbs at 3:00pm at Martin Luckie Park. The ‘Greeks,’ who had a perfect year leading up to the National League Championship, winning every title they contested, must secure a victory tomorrow to avoid having to depend on the results of other teams to get them to the final. Paul Ifill’s side, having won 17 of their 18 matches in the Central League, currently has one point from a 0-0 draw against Coastal Spirit in their opening match. As one of the strongest teams in the country and the reigning champions, a poor result against Eastern Suburbs could complicate their campaign.

On the other side will be none other than Eastern Suburbs. The ‘Lilywhites’ boast one of the league's top strikers (Jake Mechell), who has already scored two goals in the tournament, making them a formidable opponent for any rival. The Auckland team knows they have a chance to push Wellington Olympic to the brink of elimination, promising a dynamic and fiercely contested match where neither team will settle for a draw.

Western Springs vs Birkenhead United:

On Saturday at 7:30pm, Western Springs will face Birkenhead United at Seddon Fields. This matchup promises to be another highlight of the round, featuring two teams that know each other well. In their two encounters during the 2024 Northern League, the home team emerged victorious both times,  leaving them at one a piece. Additionally, they met in the Chatham Cup, where Birkenhead United triumphed in a penalty shootout after a draw in regulation time. Surprisingly, both teams have conceded a significant number of goals in the first two matches of the tournament, with each conceding six goals.

Western Springs, after suffering a 0-4 loss to Napier City Rovers in their opener, made a remarkable comeback in their second match, winning 6-2 against Coastal Spirit. This result improved their goal difference, and if they secure a win tomorrow, they will leave Birkenhead United with just one point from a possible nine.

On the other hand, Paul Hobson’s side knows they also need a win to avoid falling behind in the standings. In their first two matches, ‘Birko’ struggled with consistency, creating numerous scoring opportunities against Auckland City FC and Western Suburbs but also leaving themselves vulnerable and proving less effective than their opponents. They are undoubtedly a dangerous team that could start producing results at any moment, but a loss would leave them at the bottom of the table.

Coastal Spirit vs Western Suburbs:

Currently, both teams find themselves at the bottom of the league table, each with one point. While they haven't secured a win in their first two matches, both have shown promising moments of play, posing challenges to strong opponents like Wellington Olympic and Birkenhead United.

This match will take place on Sunday at 1:00pm at Linfield Park and will feature two of the top scorers from the regional phase: Alejandro Steinwascher, who netted 19 goals for Coastal Spirit, and Lucas Meek, with 15 goals for Western Suburbs.

Napier City Rovers vs Wellington Phoenix Reserves:

On Sunday at 2:00pm, Napier City Rovers will host Wellington Phoenix Reserves at Bluewater Stadium. The teams have already faced each other twice this year in the regional phase, with each side winning one match.

Managed by Bill Robertson, the home team has been one of the strongest in the league so far, based on their performance and results. They currently have four points from a 4-0 victory over Western Springs and a 2-2 draw against Eastern Suburbs. Additionally, Napier boasts Oscar Faulds in their lineup, who has scored 22 goals this year.

Meanwhile, Chris Greenacre’s team will face the challenge of maintaining the high level they displayed last weekend when they defeated Cashmere Technical 4-0 in Christchurch. However, Wellington Phoenix may be without several key players for this Sunday’s match, including Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues, Luke Supyk, and Finn Conchie.

Auckland City FC vs Cashmere Technical:

Starting at 2:00pm on Sunday, Auckland City FC will host Cashmere Technical at Kiwitea Street.

The 'Navy Blues,' fresh off a victory against the current national champions, are the only team with a perfect record after the first two rounds of the tournament. Despite not playing their best match last weekend, they managed to edge out Wellington Olympic 1-0 at home, ending a 22-match unbeaten streak for them.

On the other side will be the Southern League champions, who began the season with a strong away win against Western Suburbs but suffered a heavy 0-4 defeat last weekend to Wellington Phoenix Reserves. In addition to Auckland City FC’s status as favourites this weekend, it’s worth noting the absence of Garbhan Coughlan for Cashmere Technical. The striker is their top scorer and a key player for the Christchurch side. His absence will undoubtedly be a relief for Auckland City FC's defenders.

Don’t miss any of the action! All matches will be streamed live and free on FIFA+.

Article added: Friday 11 October 2024