Jason Pine: Football commentator and Weekend Sport host on Auckland FC's A-League Semi Final

Auckland FC are looking to book their spot in the A-League Grand Final.

The club has the second leg of their A-League semi-final clash against Melbourne Victory tomorrow night.

It’s the home leg for AFC – with Go Media Mount Smart Stadium expected to be a sellout with 28-thousand fans.

Football Commentator and Newstalk ZB's Weekend Sport host Jason Pine told Ryan Bridge with Auckland up 1-0, he absolutely backs the team to make the final. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's game two. It is the crunch time for Auckland
f C. They're taking on Melbourne victory. This is the
second leg of the A League semi final this weekend.
They hold a one nil advantage right now, twenty eight
thousand fans heading to Mount Smart. Jason Pine, football commentator
in News Talk zbis week in Sport host with me pliny,
good morning, get it Ryan. So what are they going
to do here?

Speaker 2 (00:19):
Well, I mean I think they'll be. I think they'll
be exactly the way they've been all season, which is
going out to win football matches. They're one nill ahead,
as you say, so they know that if they don't
concede they make the Grand Final. It's all done on aggregate.
So a nil all draw, for example, would get them
through one nill on aggregate. But I just don't think

(00:41):
it's an Auckland f C's DNA to sit back and
defend for ninety minutes. And I don't really think they'll
do anything other than go out tomorrow night and try
and win this football match and and sort of stride
confidently into the final next week, rather than just sort of,
you know, defend for ninety minutes and squeak in that way.
So yeah, I think we'll see the Auckland f C

(01:01):
we've seen pretty much all season, a very very good
football side that likes to, you know, obviously be tight
at the back, you know, but when the opportunity presents attack,
I think we'll see some goals tomorrow night without a
shadow of a doubt.

Speaker 1 (01:14):
Plus, if they can go one nill in Melbourne, then
surely they can go one better here.

Speaker 2 (01:19):
Yeah, that's a very good point. Yeah, you expect to
win your home games. You expect that home advantage means
just that that you have the advantage, and you talked
about the crowd and my goodness, it's going to be
something else tomorrow night when when that game kicks off,
and if Auckland f C can get the job done.
Of course, we know that next Saturday they'll host the

(01:41):
Grand Final at the same venue, so there's huge incentive
there for them to get the job done. For the
fans that will turn up, they would love one more
opportunity over Ken's Birthday weekend to cheer this team in
a Grand final. So yep, your home advantage means just that,
and it's been something that Auckland f C have taken
good advantage of the season.

Speaker 1 (02:01):
You'll be there commentating. Of course, do they give you
extra soundproof glass because of the the sound.

Speaker 2 (02:07):
Well I might need it, I tell you, you know,
they've added extra seats, they've added extra hospitality. I think
every space that's available at the ground will be utilized.
But look, you have to give it to Auckland FC's
you know, fan base. Just how quickly this has become
a thing. You know, I mean eighteen years without a

(02:29):
team in Auckland, and there were doubts after what happened
to the nights back in the you know, two thousand
and five, two thousand and six time frame, that that
people would turn up. Well, goodness made. They've turned up
and some and made some noise. So yeah, I think
I think anybody expecting or wanting a quiet night should
steer clear. I'll go medium out smart tomorrow night.

Speaker 1 (02:50):
Good advice, Jason. Good to have you on as always,
Jason Pine, football commentator, weekend sport host right here on
news talks.

Speaker 2 (02:56):
You'd be for more from early edition with Ryan Bridge
us some live to news talks. It'd be from five
am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio