Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from newstalk ZEDB past one.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Auckland FC will face Melbourne Victory in their two legged
semi final in Football's a league. How they look for
Rassini It's against Clerk and if it stands a double lot,
but Oarsarni's tricks.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
His way plus both of them.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Here's a victors.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
It's two to one Melvine Victory Senadvershafs with the finish
and that's how it finished. Victory confirming their spot in
the Final four with a two to one elimination final
win over the Western Sydney Wanderers last night. So Auckland
FC will travel to Melbourne for the first leg of
the semifinal next Saturday night nine thirty five, before hosting
(00:50):
leg two at go Media Stadium a week later. That'll
be a six o'clock kickoff on the night of Saturday
May twenty four. The other semifinal will feature home and
away matches between Melbourne City and Western United. Let's bring
in former a league champion, a League Golden Boot winner
and the Joe Marston middleist for Man of the Match
(01:10):
in the twenty twelve to thirteen Grand Final now A
Leagues commentator Daniel mcbreen, who was on the call with
Simon Hill last night, MACA, thanks for your time. Did
Victory deserve the win last night over the Wanderers and
their progress through to the semifinals?
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Yeah? I think they did. I thought they were the
better team last night and it goes to show with
finals football is about. Wanderers were the favorites and at
one stage, I think after twenty minutes when Victory were
doing really well, the tight start of the turn and
go to Western Sydney and you thought, here we go,
they've done this before. But Zinady mashashs put paid to
that with a goal which really just flattened Western Sydney
(01:47):
Wanderers and they were very unconvincing in the second half,
really couldn't find their mojo and that was all for
Melbourn Victory. The way they played, they defended as a
great group and obviously they've got players like Daniel Larzani
who can step up and create something out and nothing,
and he did that last night.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
So Melbourne Vick's, as we know, have real finals pedigree.
Auckland can't have it because they're in their first season,
But how much will finals experience help Melbourne victory in
a two legged semi against Auckland.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Look, yeah, you're right, they've got the experience. They were,
you know, about a minute away from holding the championship
trophy last year until the Mariners found something. So they've
got that heartache as well that they can draw on
to say, right, that's not going to happen again. I
think the advantage lays with Auckland. Yes their premiers and
yes they're the favorites, but I think the advantage lays
(02:40):
with two games. They've shown over the course of the
year that they are forced to be reckoned with that
that they've lifted the premiers play and I think if
a one off game, anyone in the top six can
beat anyone. But I think over two legs may show,
you know, Auckland's quality might shine through and they get
past that first game in Melbourne and they can come
(03:02):
away there with a good result. I think when they
get home and they have that huge crowd behind them,
that might get and the lift to get them through.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
How much motivation will there be for Steve Carriker and
Auckland FC too, I don't know, be a little bit
conservative and League one. As you say, Macerate's across two leagues.
Once the first game has done, we're only at half
time and the tie, do you expect them to sit
back a bit in League one?
Speaker 1 (03:24):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (03:24):
Look, yeah, I don't think it's going to be Kamakazi
all out, let's go and just smash them off the
park in the first game. It might be a bit
of a feeling out process first finals series for the club,
as you mentioned, so, I think when you're going away
from home generally you are a little bit more pragmatic.
But look, they've got the best defense in the league
for a reason. They know they can rely on that.
(03:45):
They've got probably I would say the best goalkeeper in
the year again in the league. Again that they can
rely on that as well. So I think all the
things that they've done this year show that they're a
quality team. As I say, I think going away from home,
if they can come away with at least a draw,
I think they'll be very confident at home that they
can get the job done. But insane that I don't
(04:06):
think the going to sit there and play for if
you if they can go and win the game, of
course they will go and do it.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
You mentioned Melbourne Victory's Soccer Who's attack of Daniel Larsani
best player out there last night? Wasn't he how big
a part of Victory's championship hopes? Do you think he is?
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Well? Huge? We all know that when we see when
he's at his best, he is extremely good. But when
he has it off day, he can be very quiet.
And that's the probably the big thing that everyone spoke
about Daniel Larsani over the past few years is we
know he's got outstanding talent, but it's just that consistency
of delivering time and time again, and that's not easy.
(04:41):
But he just seems to be in very confident mood
at the moment since himself and missal Vloupla went into
the Soccer Who's camps and Tomy Popovich gave him a
little bit of a serve when he first went in,
he seems to have taken that and put the bit
between the teeth and said, right, well, I'm going to
be better than and the confidence is great and when
he gets in one v one situations at the moment,
(05:02):
there's not too many defenders that can stop him because
he's electric, he's quick, he's talented and he's also very
very strong.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Aside from him Mecca. You know, for Auckland DFC fans
looking to try and match these two teams up, how
do you think Auckland FC match up in general terms
against Melbourne victory.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Yeah, I think they're very good. Look, Auckland's defensive setup
is absolutely fantastic when you look at the back four
as I said Alex Paulson in goals and the two
midfielders of Astrata are sitting in front of the back four.
That's the reason they're the best defense in the league
because they are strong, aggressive, experienced and I think if
anyone's going to keep Nisan Volupa and Daniel Larzani quiet,
(05:42):
well it's Sackey and Debrize. And when you've got the
Strata and Dan Hall there as well, it's a very
very solid unit. And you've got Zeno the Machash straight
up against the Strata. For me, that is an epic battle.
They're two big, strong players who you know, don't let
anything go without a fight. It's going to be an
exceptional battle and honestly, I can't wait to see it.
(06:03):
I'm really excited.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Yeah, we all are too. I mean, I don't know
that anybody expected Auckland FC to do what they've done
in their debut season. At what point during the season
did you start to think to yourself, hey, this is
actually a team that could go quite deep.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Well, I think when they went the first was it
the first nine games or eight games without conceding a
goal and didn't lose a game, I think everyone was
very early in the season they're like, hang on. I
think Stevie coach has put a very good team together here.
I must admit I thought goal scoring would be a
bit of a problem early on in the season because
it was they didn't seem to have anyone who was
(06:38):
a standout, prolific goal scorer. But as the season's rolled on,
that hasn't proved to be a problem either. And I
just think they've just got more confident better as the
season going on. And I think then that little aura
starts to build around them as the season goes on
and teams that are coming up against them realize, hey,
this is a difficult task we've got here. So I
think it's just been a steady build. They started off
(06:59):
fantastically once they sort of started a scoring the goals
from everywhere as well. They can score from set pieces,
they could score from outside box. Yeah. As it went on,
I probably say about halfway through the season, you were
thinking these guys are the real deal.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
And we saw some interesting scenes just after the final
whistle last night, the two head coaches coming together with
some heated words by the looks. Have you managed to
find out what went on there?
Speaker 3 (07:24):
I'm going to be honest. I was up in the
commentary box, so we couldn't quite work out what was
going on. But it did continue with some of the
backroom staff of Victory and Alan Stadgies for quite some
time after. And I did get someone send me a
message to say that the last time they met, they
believed that Arthur Dillis didn't shake hands with Studs when
he shook when they got beat. Now I'm not sure
(07:44):
if that's true or not. I haven't had chance to
go back and check that out, but there was some
definite feeling there and it continued for quite some time.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Interesting stuff for Weston. Suddenly you're right, backer, You know,
I had them as favorites going in last night, you
did they were at home A bit of a meek
end to the season, was.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
It, Yeah, it was. Look, you've got to give credit
to Melbourne Victory because they defended fantastically. We've spoke about
Ryan Teigue at nauseam this year, but Jordi Valadon's performance
as well in the midfield. His energy and is ambition
to close down any Western Sydney attack was therefore all
to see. Nicholas Milanovitch, who we all thought would set
(08:22):
the game on fire, was very quiet and subdued, and
they just couldn't seem to find their rhythm going forward.
There was probably a ten to fifteen minute period in
the first half where you thought, here we go, they're
going to turn it around. But credit to melbourn Victory,
they snuffed that out and they couldn't really get a
shot in on target in the second half. That really
troubled Jack conduncent well in.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Melbourne's obviously the power base of a league football. Because
the other two Melbourne teams, Melbourne City and Western United,
are in the other semi final, who do you expect
to come through to the Grand Final from those two?
Speaker 3 (08:55):
Well, that's a good question, fining. You put me on
the spot there. Look, Western United were fantastic in their
game against Adelaide, but saying that Adelaide, I think we've
seen in the second half of the season have been
a bit of a shadow of their former selves from
the first half of the season. If I was Stevie Coricter,
the one team and I know you've got to beat
(09:15):
the best to be the best, but I think the
one team that he'd be looking at with a little
bit of trepidation would be Western United. Obviously, Auckland lost
three games this year incredibly. One of them was against Perth.
I don't know how that happened. The other two losses
came against Western United and it was done in pretty
emphatic fashion as well. I think it was four niel
and four to two. So I think if you're looking
(09:37):
from an Auckland perspective, I think they might be sitting
there saying, and I know this sounds strange because Melbourne
City is so good as well, that they might be
looking at Melbourne City and same, please get through because
Western United seemed to have the wood on us.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Yeah, it's an interesting, intriguing final series ahead or semi
final series ahead home and away Melbourne City, Western United
home and away, AUCKLANDFC and Melbourne victory. Mecha, I love
to call last night as always, thanks for joining us today.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
Thanks BIANI always a pleasure mate.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Good on you mate. Then Daniel mcgreen there joining us
out of Australia. So our semi five finals are set.
Auckland f C will take on Melbourne Victory. And just
another reminder, these are home and away matches. It is
the winner across the two legs that will progress to
the final. So Auckland FC, by virtue of finishing top
(10:22):
of the table, have elected to have the home leg second.
So the first leg Melbourne Victory Auckland f C will
take place on Saturday night, Saturday Night, the seventeenth of May,
a nine thirty five kickoff New Zealand time, nine thirty
five New Zealand Time, Western United Melbourne City in the
first of the semis. That's Friday night, and then the
(10:45):
second legs are the following weekend and the twenty fourth
of May. Saturday, the twenty fourth of May at go
Media Stadium, Auckland f C will host Melbourne Victory. That
is a six o'clock New Zealand time kickoff. Now I've
just got some new three here from Auckland f C.
They are hosting semi final watch parties next Saturday, and
(11:07):
they've got them in three different places. Takutai Square, Tyler
Street Sport and the brit are all hosting watch parties now.
Taku Thai Square is going to put up a big
thirty square meter big screen and going to have other
entertainment cage football, which isn't as daunting as it sounds,
(11:28):
are DJ games and other things, making it ideal for families.
Tyler Street Sports and the Brits for obviously over eighteen's
only because they're licensed premises. They're all free events now
from Auckland FC's release here. Tyler Street Sport best suited
to port members and fans who are keen to sing,
(11:48):
cheer and stand right throughout the game. The brit will
provide a more relaxed atmosphere, more suited too, I guess
you know. I guess you more civilized members, but still
those who get excited and Tacutai Square ideal for families,
with the build up starting early for those who won't
make it to the no I'm thirty five kickoff time.
So again you have to hand it to Auckland FC.
(12:11):
They're innovating around this and as far as the tickets
to the home semi are concerned, And let me just
bring up this, So this is the home league on
the twenty fourth of May. Tickets for Auckland FC members
on sale now. So if you're an Auckland FC member,
I'm sure you've already got your ticket tickets for away
fans ten o'clock on Monday. That's ten o'clock tomorrow and
(12:35):
I think that's also when the general sale for Auckland
FC goes on sale, so tomorrow morning at around ten o'clock. Anyway,
if you go to the Auckland FC website, I'm sure
you can follow your nose to find your tickets.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
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