PREVIEW: Auckland City and Wellington Olympic set for OFC play-off decider

Auckland City expect arch rivals Wellington Olympic to come out with guns blazing when they meet in their OFC Men’s Champions League play-off decider.

City defender Michael den Heijer told Auckland City FC Media: “I’m expecting a fast start from them — it’s going to be a fiery game.”

The teams meet at Wellington’s Martin Luckie Park on Saturday March 16, 2024, for the second match of their two-legged play-off series after Auckland gained the advantage with a 1-0 win in the opener.

Den Heijer said the City team felt proud to have kept a clean sheet against the National League champions in the first leg at Kiwitea Street.

“It’s an exciting prospect, trying to keep it two clean sheets in a row against a top attacking line-up,” den Heijer said.

“We’ll be doing everything we can to do that.”

Losing the National League grand final to Olympic in late 2023 had benefitted City, in that they were now focussed on regaining their upper hand over their rivals.

“I think we’re going to have to come with exactly the same attitude as what we brought to Kiwitea in the first leg.”

Main photo: Auckland City goalscorer Stipe Ukich is brought down in the first leg. Photo: Andy Skinner / Phototek.

Olympic coach Paul Ifill: ‘We are under no illusions’

Wellington Olympic head coach Paul Ifill believes his side’s vocal supporters and home advantage can swing the two-legged tie his team’s way.

Writing in the club’s match programme, Ifill said: “Even though we lost (the first leg), I felt that we were always a threat and that the game could have gone either way.

“I always thought that we would have to win at home to progress, and I feel a 1-0 deficit is obtainable if we get things right today with our very vocal supporters behind us.

“We are under no illusion as to the task at hand as we face the most successful club in the country.

“Games of this magnitude are what we as players and staff love, and I can promise we will leave everything out there as
we try to qualify for a maiden O-League campaign.”

Ifill’s final words are to the Olympic fans: “Please get behind the players as I really feel you could be the difference today.”

What they’re playing for

The result over two legs will decide which team represents New Zealand at the OFC Men’s Champions League tournament in Tahiti from May 11-24, 2024.

READ MORE: Draw made for eight-club OFC Men’s Champions League tournament >>>>

The winners of the OFC Men’s Champions League will qualify to represent Oceania at a new annual FIFA club competition, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

The first staging of the six-club tournament will be in December.

City fans to watch game live from clubrooms

Auckland City are hosting a day of football — live and on their television screens — at their Kiwitea Street headquarters.

The clubrooms will open at 1pm, and spectators will be able to enjoy live football between Central United Presidents XI and Mount Albert Ponsonby for the Brian Stanyer Memorial Trophy at 2pm.

READ MORE: Clubs get together for annual memorial match to remember Brian ‘Stan’ Stanyer >>>>

The club will screen the live FIFA+ stream of the OFC Champions League play-off from Wellington (see link below).

Fixture

Game to be played on Saturday March 16, 2024

OFC Men’s Champions League

National play-offs — second leg

Wellington Olympic v Auckland City 
Martin Luckie Park, Wellington, 2pm
Auckland City lead 1-0 after first leg

READ MORE: Auckland City claim first leg OFC play-off win against Wellington Olympic >>>>

Download the match programme

Result

Game played on Saturday March 9, 2024

National play-offs — first leg

Auckland City 1 (Stipe Ukich 72′)
Wellington Olympic 0

Squads

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