May 17, 2025 • 10 mins
Auckland FC are promising not to let up in the second leg of their A-League semi-final against the Melbourne Victory.
The Black Knights take a one-goal advantage into the return match at Mt Smart next Saturday - but coach Steve Corica says they still have work to do.
He joined Piney to discuss ahead of the team's next match.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Edb advantage Auckland FC in their A League Football semi
final against the Melbourne victory at Amy Park last night,
makes his way back to Devrees who escapes the attention
of Arsani and towards.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
The area and headed it.
Speaker 4 (00:25):
By Logan Rogerson, first one AUCKLANDFC and in front of their.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Delighted traveling supports. Francis Devrees so.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
Often the provider does it again and.
Speaker 5 (00:45):
Logan Rogerson stooping and heading home his ninth goal of
the season and giving Auckland FC the advantage in League.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
One and they held onto it one nil winners last night.
They bring that advantage back to Auckland for the second league.
That second half headed from midfielder Logan Rogerson the key
moment in the match. The second leg is Saturday night,
six o'clock Ago Media Stadium. We'll try and get you
a ticket update, but last I heard there were only
a couple one hundred left in what will be a
(01:18):
capacity of thirty thousand next week once they add the
extra seats and we'll get an actual official update. Don't
want to tell you there are no tickets if there are,
But before we do any of that, let's bring in
head coach Steve Coricker, who's with us from Melbourne. Steve,
congratulations on another terrific performance last night. In a season
of very very good performances from your team, where does
(01:39):
this one rate.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Well, it's definitely right up there as one of the
most important games of the season at that stage. Really
gritty defensive effort. I thought, you know that they didn't
have any shots on target, so that's real credit to
the whole team working hard for each other. And obviously
Logan popped up with a very important goal.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Just before we unpack the game, What was your broad
strategy going into it.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
We knew we had to defend well. I think they've
got a lot of strengths going forward, a lot of
individual players that can change games. And obviously the two
wingers are Zani velupl and Mchash were the real threats
that we spoke about a fair bit that we wanted
to make sure that we limit the time they had
on the ball, and I think, you know, the boys
did it exceptionally well. When one player got beat the
(02:31):
other one, someone else was there to, you know, to
take over from him, and that's what we spoke about,
just more everyone working hard for each other and getting
the job done.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
You needed to soak up a fair degree of early pressure.
Did you expect that from Melbourne Victory?
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Well, yeah, I did. You know they were always going
to start well and they were on top, you know,
obviously that first fifteen to twenty minutes, and also I
think probably with us not playing last week as well,
it took us a little while to get into the game,
I thought. But I think once we did, yeah, we
(03:09):
started to play some good football and obviously started to
create chances and yeah, I think we pretty much control
the game from then on.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
As you said, Steve, Melbourne Victory didn't register a single
shot on target. Alex Paulson didn't have to make us
save although there were seven blocked shots. So how much
did your back for protect your keeper last night?
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Yeah? Back four, But also I put that down to
everyone really, but there was a lot of blocks from
the back four as well, really putting their body on
the line, and we spoke about that as well. You know,
they do shoot from distance and you have to put
your body on the line at times, and they definitely
did it. Last night, and you know it kept a
(03:53):
clean sheet. That's what's really important. Obviously we get the
one goal, maybe should have been too right at the
end with Nadas when they hit the double post, we
were up celebrating almost and yeah, you know, obviously going
in with the two goal would have been nice. But
I think, you know, away from home, it's never easy
coming here anyway, and then you know we're going back
(04:15):
home now to go media in front of thirty thousand.
Hopefully we can you know, bring it home there.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
The goal you did score was from Logan Rogerson. Nine
for the season now for him, he said afterwards, you
gave him a bit of a serve at halftime, is
that right?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
I just wanted more from him. I didn't think I
was getting enough from the right hand side, not enough
forward runs, and I just wanted more from him. And
he produced in the second half, obviously with a very
important goal. So yeah, he's popped up at some really
crucial moments Logan for the team and important goals.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Yeah, I mean, I don't know, nine for the season.
I don't know whether he's he's always been that prolific.
Did you expect him to be? You know, nearly a
double figure goal scorer for you at the start of
the season.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
In that position there, you know, I'd like them to
get around six or seven at least, I think as
a winger. I don't think he's probably ever scored that
many inner season, not that what I saw, But I
think he's probably surprised himself. You know, he's getting into
very good positions and he's taken his chances when they come,
and you know, he's a real threat on goal now,
is which is good for us. We need players like that,
(05:27):
especially our wingers, popping up with goals. And if he
can get you know, to nine or ten, that's that's
really good for a winger, I think.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
And he had the honor of scoring your fiftieth goal
of the season. You've got there faster than any other
side has ever gotten to fifty goals twenty seven games.
Previous record hold it was your previous side, Sidney FC.
You've been excellent defensively, as we've outlined. But as a
former striker, how much does a record like that getting
to fifty goals so quickly meant to you?
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Yeah, Terry showed me that last night after the game.
That's I was surprising, but that's I think it just
you know, credit to you know, like we speak a
lot about our defensive set up at the club and
keeping clean sheets, but you know we are scoring you know,
one or two goals you know every game, which is
(06:16):
which is really positive as well for the team. And
to get there the fastest ever in the in the
A League after you know, to get fifty goals, that's
quite amazing.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
And you keept on going too. You talked about Nato
Modino's you know chants at the end and yeah, I
think get to five the laws of physics not going in.
Some are heating boat both posts and then rebounding straight
to Jack Duncan. But it wasn't as though you said
on the lead, yes, you bring Tommy Smith on and
we know that he's very good at closing things out.
Kellen Elliott too, but you clearly didn't tell your team
just to sit back and park a bus. Steve, No, we.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Don't do that. You know. We even when we go
to the back five, we we normally create chances going forward.
And you know we got the wide players that will
get forward. We've got Gashamo as well, and then you've
got midfield. Is still breaking forward, So yeah, we definitely
don't sit back. We were quoe solid defensive league with
the five, but you know, we still want to play
(07:08):
our football and continue to try and score another goal.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
One of the hallmarks of your season has been the
consistency you've managed and chosen through selection. Eleven of your
players have played in twenty three or more of your
twenty seven matches. How key has that been to you
to be able to put out a very similar side
each week.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Yeah, obviously it helps. Obviously if they're all doing well
and performing at a high level and we're winning, that's obviously,
you know what you want, the consistency, the players to
get to know each other, they know what to expect.
But I think if you look at our bench as well,
it's really, you know, a really quality bench. You know,
you've got need comes on he Sea's already scored I
(07:48):
don't know, eight goals or something this season as well.
Then you've got Brimmer, cam Howison didn't even get on.
The real quality players, Tommy Smith, Kellen Elliott. You know,
there's a real strength to the team and good depth
as well, and they're all in it together. You know,
the ones on the bench not playing obviously, you know,
(08:09):
they all want to play, but there's a real support
for everyone who is playing.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
How wet was it last night.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
When we first started? It was quite wet obviously for
the first probably ten fifteen minutes and then and then
it stopped. But obviously that pitch is quite slippery anyway
and fast, and you know there's it's actually good for
playing playing conditions. You know, the boys liked it, enjoyed it.
But yeah, they all had their studs on except for Logan,
but Daddy Hay wasn't too happy with Logan having no studs.
(08:41):
But obviously he popped up with a goal, so that's
got him off the hook.
Speaker 5 (08:46):
I think.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Was he out there in Maldis He was, Yes, he
obviously feels comfortable in molds.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
He knows better than that. Just to finish, what do
you reckon? It's going to be like it go media
next Saturday night.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
Well, it's going to be an amazing atmosphere. They've obviously
put the some more seats in, so it's going to
be like thirty thousand is going to be brilliant. They've
definitely been right behind us all season, and yeah, we
just want to bring it home for them. And get
into that home final and go on and win. It
start about just getting there, it's about winning. So we've
(09:20):
got two more games, two more wins, and we get
the job done, which would be unbelievable for Auckland and
for the whole club.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Another giant's stride in the right direction last night, Steve,
thanks for the check. Congratulations on the win last night.
Safe travels mate, Thanks Bony, cheers me good on Steve.
Steve Coreka, the head coach of Auckland FC from Melbourne.
They'll come home, they'll regroup, they'll refresh and then on
Saturday night Go Media Stadium will go mad. I would
imagine with close to thirty thousand there, they're throwing the
(09:52):
extra seats and I think capacity. It's always a little
bit difficult to tell it go Media what the actual
capacity is. They're adding twenty seven hundred extra seats. Earlier
this season they got twenty seven thousand there for the
derby against Wellington Phoenix. So I guess if you add
twenty seven hundred to twenty seven thousand, you're getting close
(10:13):
to thirty thousand seats. We'll try and get an update
for you. There will be no seats available very soon,
I would imagine, but depending on when the extra seats
are released, if there's some of those where members hand
their ticketback or whatever it is, there might be some
tickets available a bit later in the week. We are
going to broadcast the show next Saturday from Tyler Street, Sport,
(10:36):
so midday to three next Saturday will be right in
the heart of Auckland FC country ahead of the game,
which kicks off at six.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Edb advantage Auckland FC in their A League Football semi
final against the Melbourne victory at Amy Park last night,
makes his way back to Devrees who escapes the attention
of Arsani and towards.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
The area and headed it.
Speaker 4 (00:25):
By Logan Rogerson, first one AUCKLANDFC and in front of their.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Delighted traveling supports. Francis Devrees so.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
Often the provider does it again and.
Speaker 5 (00:45):
Logan Rogerson stooping and heading home his ninth goal of
the season and giving Auckland FC the advantage in League.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
One and they held onto it one nil winners last night.
They bring that advantage back to Auckland for the second league.
That second half headed from midfielder Logan Rogerson the key
moment in the match. The second leg is Saturday night,
six o'clock Ago Media Stadium. We'll try and get you
a ticket update, but last I heard there were only
a couple one hundred left in what will be a
(01:18):
capacity of thirty thousand next week once they add the
extra seats and we'll get an actual official update. Don't
want to tell you there are no tickets if there are,
But before we do any of that, let's bring in
head coach Steve Coricker, who's with us from Melbourne. Steve,
congratulations on another terrific performance last night. In a season
of very very good performances from your team, where does
(01:39):
this one rate.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Well, it's definitely right up there as one of the
most important games of the season at that stage. Really
gritty defensive effort. I thought, you know that they didn't
have any shots on target, so that's real credit to
the whole team working hard for each other. And obviously
Logan popped up with a very important goal.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Just before we unpack the game, What was your broad
strategy going into it.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
We knew we had to defend well. I think they've
got a lot of strengths going forward, a lot of
individual players that can change games. And obviously the two
wingers are Zani velupl and Mchash were the real threats
that we spoke about a fair bit that we wanted
to make sure that we limit the time they had
on the ball, and I think, you know, the boys
did it exceptionally well. When one player got beat the
(02:31):
other one, someone else was there to, you know, to
take over from him, and that's what we spoke about,
just more everyone working hard for each other and getting
the job done.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
You needed to soak up a fair degree of early pressure.
Did you expect that from Melbourne Victory?
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Well, yeah, I did. You know they were always going
to start well and they were on top, you know,
obviously that first fifteen to twenty minutes, and also I
think probably with us not playing last week as well,
it took us a little while to get into the game,
I thought. But I think once we did, yeah, we
(03:09):
started to play some good football and obviously started to
create chances and yeah, I think we pretty much control
the game from then on.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
As you said, Steve, Melbourne Victory didn't register a single
shot on target. Alex Paulson didn't have to make us
save although there were seven blocked shots. So how much
did your back for protect your keeper last night?
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Yeah? Back four, But also I put that down to
everyone really, but there was a lot of blocks from
the back four as well, really putting their body on
the line, and we spoke about that as well. You know,
they do shoot from distance and you have to put
your body on the line at times, and they definitely
did it. Last night, and you know it kept a
(03:53):
clean sheet. That's what's really important. Obviously we get the
one goal, maybe should have been too right at the
end with Nadas when they hit the double post, we
were up celebrating almost and yeah, you know, obviously going
in with the two goal would have been nice. But
I think, you know, away from home, it's never easy
coming here anyway, and then you know we're going back
(04:15):
home now to go media in front of thirty thousand.
Hopefully we can you know, bring it home there.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
The goal you did score was from Logan Rogerson. Nine
for the season now for him, he said afterwards, you
gave him a bit of a serve at halftime, is
that right?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
I just wanted more from him. I didn't think I
was getting enough from the right hand side, not enough
forward runs, and I just wanted more from him. And
he produced in the second half, obviously with a very
important goal. So yeah, he's popped up at some really
crucial moments Logan for the team and important goals.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Yeah, I mean, I don't know, nine for the season.
I don't know whether he's he's always been that prolific.
Did you expect him to be? You know, nearly a
double figure goal scorer for you at the start of
the season.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
In that position there, you know, I'd like them to
get around six or seven at least, I think as
a winger. I don't think he's probably ever scored that
many inner season, not that what I saw, But I
think he's probably surprised himself. You know, he's getting into
very good positions and he's taken his chances when they come,
and you know, he's a real threat on goal now,
is which is good for us. We need players like that,
(05:27):
especially our wingers, popping up with goals. And if he
can get you know, to nine or ten, that's that's
really good for a winger, I think.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
And he had the honor of scoring your fiftieth goal
of the season. You've got there faster than any other
side has ever gotten to fifty goals twenty seven games.
Previous record hold it was your previous side, Sidney FC.
You've been excellent defensively, as we've outlined. But as a
former striker, how much does a record like that getting
to fifty goals so quickly meant to you?
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Yeah, Terry showed me that last night after the game.
That's I was surprising, but that's I think it just
you know, credit to you know, like we speak a
lot about our defensive set up at the club and
keeping clean sheets, but you know we are scoring you know,
one or two goals you know every game, which is
(06:16):
which is really positive as well for the team. And
to get there the fastest ever in the in the
A League after you know, to get fifty goals, that's
quite amazing.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
And you keept on going too. You talked about Nato
Modino's you know chants at the end and yeah, I
think get to five the laws of physics not going in.
Some are heating boat both posts and then rebounding straight
to Jack Duncan. But it wasn't as though you said
on the lead, yes, you bring Tommy Smith on and
we know that he's very good at closing things out.
Kellen Elliott too, but you clearly didn't tell your team
just to sit back and park a bus. Steve, No, we.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Don't do that. You know. We even when we go
to the back five, we we normally create chances going forward.
And you know we got the wide players that will
get forward. We've got Gashamo as well, and then you've
got midfield. Is still breaking forward, So yeah, we definitely
don't sit back. We were quoe solid defensive league with
the five, but you know, we still want to play
(07:08):
our football and continue to try and score another goal.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
One of the hallmarks of your season has been the
consistency you've managed and chosen through selection. Eleven of your
players have played in twenty three or more of your
twenty seven matches. How key has that been to you
to be able to put out a very similar side
each week.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Yeah, obviously it helps. Obviously if they're all doing well
and performing at a high level and we're winning, that's obviously,
you know what you want, the consistency, the players to
get to know each other, they know what to expect.
But I think if you look at our bench as well,
it's really, you know, a really quality bench. You know,
you've got need comes on he Sea's already scored I
(07:48):
don't know, eight goals or something this season as well.
Then you've got Brimmer, cam Howison didn't even get on.
The real quality players, Tommy Smith, Kellen Elliott. You know,
there's a real strength to the team and good depth
as well, and they're all in it together. You know,
the ones on the bench not playing obviously, you know,
(08:09):
they all want to play, but there's a real support
for everyone who is playing.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
How wet was it last night.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
When we first started? It was quite wet obviously for
the first probably ten fifteen minutes and then and then
it stopped. But obviously that pitch is quite slippery anyway
and fast, and you know there's it's actually good for
playing playing conditions. You know, the boys liked it, enjoyed it.
But yeah, they all had their studs on except for Logan,
but Daddy Hay wasn't too happy with Logan having no studs.
(08:41):
But obviously he popped up with a goal, so that's
got him off the hook.
Speaker 5 (08:46):
I think.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Was he out there in Maldis He was, Yes, he
obviously feels comfortable in molds.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
He knows better than that. Just to finish, what do
you reckon? It's going to be like it go media
next Saturday night.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
Well, it's going to be an amazing atmosphere. They've obviously
put the some more seats in, so it's going to
be like thirty thousand is going to be brilliant. They've
definitely been right behind us all season, and yeah, we
just want to bring it home for them. And get
into that home final and go on and win. It
start about just getting there, it's about winning. So we've
(09:20):
got two more games, two more wins, and we get
the job done, which would be unbelievable for Auckland and
for the whole club.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Another giant's stride in the right direction last night, Steve,
thanks for the check. Congratulations on the win last night.
Safe travels mate, Thanks Bony, cheers me good on Steve.
Steve Coreka, the head coach of Auckland FC from Melbourne.
They'll come home, they'll regroup, they'll refresh and then on
Saturday night Go Media Stadium will go mad. I would
imagine with close to thirty thousand there, they're throwing the
(09:52):
extra seats and I think capacity. It's always a little
bit difficult to tell it go Media what the actual
capacity is. They're adding twenty seven hundred extra seats. Earlier
this season they got twenty seven thousand there for the
derby against Wellington Phoenix. So I guess if you add
twenty seven hundred to twenty seven thousand, you're getting close
(10:13):
to thirty thousand seats. We'll try and get an update
for you. There will be no seats available very soon,
I would imagine, but depending on when the extra seats
are released, if there's some of those where members hand
their ticketback or whatever it is, there might be some
tickets available a bit later in the week. We are
going to broadcast the show next Saturday from Tyler Street, Sport,
(10:36):
so midday to three next Saturday will be right in
the heart of Auckland FC country ahead of the game,
which kicks off at six.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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