March 1, 2025 • 11 mins
It was a disappointing day for Auckland FC - as the team was forced to settle for a four-all draw with Adelaide United after some very late drama at Mt Smart Stadium.
The hosts thought they'd scored the match-winner in the 92nd minute through Auckland captain Hiroki Sakai.
Former All White Noel Barkley joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
They're on News Talks EDB. Extraordinary game of football in
the A League at go Media Stadium, Mount Smart yesterday
between Auckland f C and Adelaide United. Late late late
in the game, Hiroki Saki, Auckland FC's captain, scored a
goal that took Auckland f C into a four to
three lead. This was I think in the second or
(00:32):
third minute of added time and it looked as though
Auckland f C would steal all three points, not steal them,
but take all three points and the seven goal thriller,
But there was more to come.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Still there.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
And freeze has fired hope for post range and the
energy sucked out of the grounds. Is one important defender
scored the goalie thorm and give her side victory.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
The Dutchman brings scores the.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
Eighth goal of an incredible.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
A League next and brings a vent to for four.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Yeah for all the final score. Let's bring in former
All White striker Noel Barkley, who's been a keen observer
of Auckland FC in their maiden season and has always
had a very good footballing brain, Noel, thanks for joining us.
Let's start with what happened during the game yesterday. Having
led two nil, three to one and four to three
late on what Auckland f C coach Steve Coriker see
(01:38):
this as as two points dropped.
Speaker 5 (01:41):
Well, I think we I think anybody who with an
Aukland perspective will see it as a point to drop.
Then after the game, in my group of peers, we
just everybody was completely done and felt like a loss.
I had to keep reminding ourselves that we actually drew
with the second best team in the league. So it's
so awful yesterday and it just was a bit of
(02:01):
a killer the way it happened. But you know, the
game had absolutely everything that you would want an again,
lots of goals, an absolute worldy with my preer defending
for both teams really for a couple of the goals,
and you know again that you're on the edge of
the seat. Some sort of controversy around around the penalties
(02:22):
and there's some discussion around that obviously, but yeah, look
what an advert for the A League. Even the Australians
must be starting to think it often is a good
thing for the league. Because they're certainly certainly up in
the attendances and the eyeballs and that everything's good about
it and great to see the best two teams in
the league.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah. No, that the narrative coming out of Australia yesterday
was exactly that they were. They were as captivated by
it as we all were, and probably from a neutral's
point of view, it's a lot easy, yeah, to be
so rather than being a fan of one of the teams,
Auckland FC is a team, no, that's been built on
the best defense in the camp. So how disappointed will
they be that they let four goals and let those
leads slip?
Speaker 5 (03:03):
Yeah, I mean I guess you could bind them for
all four goals because I mean they did they did
get two penalties and and yes they were soft, but
there was you know, there's a certain contact here and there,
and they said defending and the last goal was just
absolutely terrible. So that they'll be gutted because that is
their their main stay. And then they're not big goal scorers.
(03:24):
A little about ten in the last two games and
sort of refute that. But over the over the season
they've really sort of been one one. Letl to know
and then you can go without let in the game.
So they're not prolific apart from lately, so they'll be
gutted and they'll be destroyed it. You know, they'll give
them so many goals. I think it's three one. They
(03:45):
thought the game was over. I'm not sure what's happened
with Maximata, whether he's injured. They took him off last
week and that was fine because it was a it
was a walkover, and but yesterday three one, that game
was far from over. Fifty five minutes to take away
your sort of main focal point dot front was a
bit of a strange one for me. I can only
presume there's something else going on there.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Yeah, I wonder about Max Marta and whether he's carrying
an injury. But you like that that that change information
with Max Martter Gud You and my have been paired
together up top for Auckland FC in the last few games,
but earlier in the season all it was my up
top by himself with sort of more you know, wide
wingers like Gillian and Rogerson and Brummer behind you like
the the two pronged attack that Max Marta brings.
Speaker 5 (04:28):
Yeah, I think, well it's brought the best in my
because he's better better facing goal and than back to goal.
You know, he's obviously got a terrific shot. And Max,
I mean Max run has gots off Rogerson's Anello one.
They just put themselves about and they make it really
difficult for defenders. They work really hard and you know
they're both popping up with the odd goal and that
(04:51):
had definitely been a bit of a change and it's
got the best in my and you know, really sort
of become more of an attacking team the first early
on again as we were sort of scratching wins. So yeah,
look it's it's you know, it's interesting making those subs
at fifty five minutes because the game's not over, especially
against the team like Adelaide. I think I saw it
(05:11):
again this morning and I had a bit of a
different perspective. I think the disappointment took over yesterday. But
Adelaide pid favelous in the second half. I probably didn't
see that yesterday. So gutted, but they claid they've got
great and they really really took it to Oakland, and
you know, they put themselves in situations where things happened
and goals happened in penalties and stuff like that, so
(05:33):
he fair playted them. Definitely a great side and they'll
be stronger when they get there under twenty soccer ruds
back and.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
They let's talk about the penalty. Steve Cark shit afterwards.
He thought both were soft. You've had a look back
at them this morning, do you have of you?
Speaker 5 (05:48):
Yes? The soft The first penalty, absolutely, he gets touched.
And what I can't understand is why the why Var
intervened because the referee is five yards behind it and
clearly made a decision that the contact wasn't big enough.
But of course once of Var interrect so you know
he's got a back bar, so that in the end
(06:10):
I'd say that's a penalty. The second one, I just
don't really know what happened there that the pictures didn't
really show me in that's contact. I have more problem
the second penalty because there was a file on the
halfway line which they just ignored and the kiddy didn't
go back and look at and a lot of people
are complaining about that, and that would be my issue
the penalty. The second one he is hard to argue
(06:31):
because obviously he's got a little touch and he goes
down and they get a penalty. But I would have
liked R to go back and have a look at
what happened before, which they certainly did for the first penalty.
They took it back. But anyway, look not everybody's going
to mention about the penalties and it's over. No, I
have a cracking game, a fantastic advert for the A League.
Falkman can just keep going on and you know, home semifinal,
(06:53):
maybe a home final. It's going to be fantastic for
football in New Zealand right round. And you know, we
all we still want the Phoenix to be there and
competitive and so on. So there's no I take no
joy in seeing them in the current situation. We want
this two strong teams in New Zealand and as soon
as they get back to that the better.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
How do you think Aukland FC have so quickly built
such a passionate following Nola. It's the best to get
in down on match day, isn't it. And all of
the replica shirts, all the community engagement, my goodness made
there was a circus there. You know, what are they
doing so well?
Speaker 5 (07:30):
Engagement with all the different groups? You know, the port
whether it's families, whether it's kids in the playground, in
the longes, all different categories. You know, the ownership group
group of there. You know, Anna and Alier are always there,
CEO Nick Becker's walking around shaking everybody's hand. It's a
family thing. It's just it's they've created something that we
(07:54):
all hope that we would see one day in New Zealand.
And you had this fanatical group of fans support expanding
week by week who you know, young guys and girls
and kids on the periphery. It's it's just fantastic. I
think it's just we all had this vision that you know,
many many years ago, that this would we would have
something like this, and it's like a steamer at the minute.
(08:17):
It just doesn't seem to stop. And I mean it's
got really relatively easy games in the next three games,
and I think getting that number one homes semifinal is
so important. I wouldn't really want to be going to
play adelaide away in a final and maybe him jumping
ahead too much, but it's hard not to.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
I think you're right now. You look at the table.
The point they got yesterday leaves an eight point buffer
back to Adelaide United and Wistern United who have played one,
you know, one more game. Eight points is a lot
to make up in eight games. It feels to me
as though Auckland FC have one hand on the on
the premiers places they call it.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Is that how you say it?
Speaker 5 (08:54):
Well, I think I think so. I mean those games
they've got coming up is sort of Newcastle, Brisbane and
Central Coast said a little bit two of those away,
so they're winnable games, you know, if they can sort
of win to doesn't draw one. I think that stem
across the line. They've got a couple of toughents. We've
got Sydney away and Melbourne victory away. I think so, yeah,
(09:15):
they're going to the loss here and there. I think
those three teams, Western, Adelaide and Auckland are just a
bit above the rest. I think the winner will come
out of those three. And then Western are already shown
that they can come to go media see them and win.
So yeah, they're the three top teams. Sydney Melbourne teams
not really firing this time around. And yeah, that's a
(09:36):
great thing for New zeal And football. That's absolutely truly amazing.
And of course next year. You got the girls coming
in and you have development team coming in. That's really
just going to expand the fan base.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Yeah, and Dave, Well, it wouldn't be a great surprise
to see a Grand Final featuring the two teams. We
saw it out there on going media yesterday and I
think you get too many harguments about it if that
was a game that we saw a bit later on
in the season. No, great to get your expertise. I
really appreciate you taking the time.
Speaker 5 (10:03):
How's your panny anytime?
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Good on you mind? That's no backley, all white striker
and as you can hear from that, pretty astute observer
of the game of football. So next up for Auckland
f C. They are away next weekend. Next Sunday night
they take on the Newcastle Jets and then back home
to their fortress of go media Statium. Although it creaked
a little bit yesterday, the Central Coast Marin is on Sunday,
(10:28):
March the sixteenth. As far as the table is concerned,
eight points clear Auckland f C at the top, Western
United are in second and Adelaide United in third place.
They've both got thirty two points those two teams, so
an eight point lead with eight games left to play.
As I said to knowl it feels like it is
Auckland f C's to lose now the minor premiership anyway,
(10:50):
they go into playoffs after that. But yeah, just some
signs yesterday of not being able to hold that lead.
Steve Carriker afterwards was most disappointed about that, as he
was with the two penalties that were awarded against his side.
But it's all part of the roller coaster that is
sporting fandom.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk set B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
They're on News Talks EDB. Extraordinary game of football in
the A League at go Media Stadium, Mount Smart yesterday
between Auckland f C and Adelaide United. Late late late
in the game, Hiroki Saki, Auckland FC's captain, scored a
goal that took Auckland f C into a four to
three lead. This was I think in the second or
(00:32):
third minute of added time and it looked as though
Auckland f C would steal all three points, not steal them,
but take all three points and the seven goal thriller,
But there was more to come.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Still there.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
And freeze has fired hope for post range and the
energy sucked out of the grounds. Is one important defender
scored the goalie thorm and give her side victory.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
The Dutchman brings scores the.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
Eighth goal of an incredible.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
A League next and brings a vent to for four.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Yeah for all the final score. Let's bring in former
All White striker Noel Barkley, who's been a keen observer
of Auckland FC in their maiden season and has always
had a very good footballing brain, Noel, thanks for joining us.
Let's start with what happened during the game yesterday. Having
led two nil, three to one and four to three
late on what Auckland f C coach Steve Coriker see
(01:38):
this as as two points dropped.
Speaker 5 (01:41):
Well, I think we I think anybody who with an
Aukland perspective will see it as a point to drop.
Then after the game, in my group of peers, we
just everybody was completely done and felt like a loss.
I had to keep reminding ourselves that we actually drew
with the second best team in the league. So it's
so awful yesterday and it just was a bit of
(02:01):
a killer the way it happened. But you know, the
game had absolutely everything that you would want an again,
lots of goals, an absolute worldy with my preer defending
for both teams really for a couple of the goals,
and you know again that you're on the edge of
the seat. Some sort of controversy around around the penalties
(02:22):
and there's some discussion around that obviously, but yeah, look
what an advert for the A League. Even the Australians
must be starting to think it often is a good
thing for the league. Because they're certainly certainly up in
the attendances and the eyeballs and that everything's good about
it and great to see the best two teams in
the league.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah. No, that the narrative coming out of Australia yesterday
was exactly that they were. They were as captivated by
it as we all were, and probably from a neutral's
point of view, it's a lot easy, yeah, to be
so rather than being a fan of one of the teams,
Auckland FC is a team, no, that's been built on
the best defense in the camp. So how disappointed will
they be that they let four goals and let those
leads slip?
Speaker 5 (03:03):
Yeah, I mean I guess you could bind them for
all four goals because I mean they did they did
get two penalties and and yes they were soft, but
there was you know, there's a certain contact here and there,
and they said defending and the last goal was just
absolutely terrible. So that they'll be gutted because that is
their their main stay. And then they're not big goal scorers.
(03:24):
A little about ten in the last two games and
sort of refute that. But over the over the season
they've really sort of been one one. Letl to know
and then you can go without let in the game.
So they're not prolific apart from lately, so they'll be
gutted and they'll be destroyed it. You know, they'll give
them so many goals. I think it's three one. They
(03:45):
thought the game was over. I'm not sure what's happened
with Maximata, whether he's injured. They took him off last
week and that was fine because it was a it
was a walkover, and but yesterday three one, that game
was far from over. Fifty five minutes to take away
your sort of main focal point dot front was a
bit of a strange one for me. I can only
presume there's something else going on there.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Yeah, I wonder about Max Marta and whether he's carrying
an injury. But you like that that that change information
with Max Martter Gud You and my have been paired
together up top for Auckland FC in the last few games,
but earlier in the season all it was my up
top by himself with sort of more you know, wide
wingers like Gillian and Rogerson and Brummer behind you like
the the two pronged attack that Max Marta brings.
Speaker 5 (04:28):
Yeah, I think, well it's brought the best in my
because he's better better facing goal and than back to goal.
You know, he's obviously got a terrific shot. And Max,
I mean Max run has gots off Rogerson's Anello one.
They just put themselves about and they make it really
difficult for defenders. They work really hard and you know
they're both popping up with the odd goal and that
(04:51):
had definitely been a bit of a change and it's
got the best in my and you know, really sort
of become more of an attacking team the first early
on again as we were sort of scratching wins. So yeah,
look it's it's you know, it's interesting making those subs
at fifty five minutes because the game's not over, especially
against the team like Adelaide. I think I saw it
(05:11):
again this morning and I had a bit of a
different perspective. I think the disappointment took over yesterday. But
Adelaide pid favelous in the second half. I probably didn't
see that yesterday. So gutted, but they claid they've got
great and they really really took it to Oakland, and
you know, they put themselves in situations where things happened
and goals happened in penalties and stuff like that, so
(05:33):
he fair playted them. Definitely a great side and they'll
be stronger when they get there under twenty soccer ruds
back and.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
They let's talk about the penalty. Steve Cark shit afterwards.
He thought both were soft. You've had a look back
at them this morning, do you have of you?
Speaker 5 (05:48):
Yes? The soft The first penalty, absolutely, he gets touched.
And what I can't understand is why the why Var
intervened because the referee is five yards behind it and
clearly made a decision that the contact wasn't big enough.
But of course once of Var interrect so you know
he's got a back bar, so that in the end
(06:10):
I'd say that's a penalty. The second one, I just
don't really know what happened there that the pictures didn't
really show me in that's contact. I have more problem
the second penalty because there was a file on the
halfway line which they just ignored and the kiddy didn't
go back and look at and a lot of people
are complaining about that, and that would be my issue
the penalty. The second one he is hard to argue
(06:31):
because obviously he's got a little touch and he goes
down and they get a penalty. But I would have
liked R to go back and have a look at
what happened before, which they certainly did for the first penalty.
They took it back. But anyway, look not everybody's going
to mention about the penalties and it's over. No, I
have a cracking game, a fantastic advert for the A League.
Falkman can just keep going on and you know, home semifinal,
(06:53):
maybe a home final. It's going to be fantastic for
football in New Zealand right round. And you know, we
all we still want the Phoenix to be there and
competitive and so on. So there's no I take no
joy in seeing them in the current situation. We want
this two strong teams in New Zealand and as soon
as they get back to that the better.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
How do you think Aukland FC have so quickly built
such a passionate following Nola. It's the best to get
in down on match day, isn't it. And all of
the replica shirts, all the community engagement, my goodness made
there was a circus there. You know, what are they
doing so well?
Speaker 5 (07:30):
Engagement with all the different groups? You know, the port
whether it's families, whether it's kids in the playground, in
the longes, all different categories. You know, the ownership group
group of there. You know, Anna and Alier are always there,
CEO Nick Becker's walking around shaking everybody's hand. It's a
family thing. It's just it's they've created something that we
(07:54):
all hope that we would see one day in New Zealand.
And you had this fanatical group of fans support expanding
week by week who you know, young guys and girls
and kids on the periphery. It's it's just fantastic. I
think it's just we all had this vision that you know,
many many years ago, that this would we would have
something like this, and it's like a steamer at the minute.
(08:17):
It just doesn't seem to stop. And I mean it's
got really relatively easy games in the next three games,
and I think getting that number one homes semifinal is
so important. I wouldn't really want to be going to
play adelaide away in a final and maybe him jumping
ahead too much, but it's hard not to.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
I think you're right now. You look at the table.
The point they got yesterday leaves an eight point buffer
back to Adelaide United and Wistern United who have played one,
you know, one more game. Eight points is a lot
to make up in eight games. It feels to me
as though Auckland FC have one hand on the on
the premiers places they call it.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Is that how you say it?
Speaker 5 (08:54):
Well, I think I think so. I mean those games
they've got coming up is sort of Newcastle, Brisbane and
Central Coast said a little bit two of those away,
so they're winnable games, you know, if they can sort
of win to doesn't draw one. I think that stem
across the line. They've got a couple of toughents. We've
got Sydney away and Melbourne victory away. I think so, yeah,
(09:15):
they're going to the loss here and there. I think
those three teams, Western, Adelaide and Auckland are just a
bit above the rest. I think the winner will come
out of those three. And then Western are already shown
that they can come to go media see them and win.
So yeah, they're the three top teams. Sydney Melbourne teams
not really firing this time around. And yeah, that's a
(09:36):
great thing for New zeal And football. That's absolutely truly amazing.
And of course next year. You got the girls coming
in and you have development team coming in. That's really
just going to expand the fan base.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Yeah, and Dave, Well, it wouldn't be a great surprise
to see a Grand Final featuring the two teams. We
saw it out there on going media yesterday and I
think you get too many harguments about it if that
was a game that we saw a bit later on
in the season. No, great to get your expertise. I
really appreciate you taking the time.
Speaker 5 (10:03):
How's your panny anytime?
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Good on you mind? That's no backley, all white striker
and as you can hear from that, pretty astute observer
of the game of football. So next up for Auckland
f C. They are away next weekend. Next Sunday night
they take on the Newcastle Jets and then back home
to their fortress of go media Statium. Although it creaked
a little bit yesterday, the Central Coast Marin is on Sunday,
(10:28):
March the sixteenth. As far as the table is concerned,
eight points clear Auckland f C at the top, Western
United are in second and Adelaide United in third place.
They've both got thirty two points those two teams, so
an eight point lead with eight games left to play.
As I said to knowl it feels like it is
Auckland f C's to lose now the minor premiership anyway,
(10:50):
they go into playoffs after that. But yeah, just some
signs yesterday of not being able to hold that lead.
Steve Carriker afterwards was most disappointed about that, as he
was with the two penalties that were awarded against his side.
But it's all part of the roller coaster that is
sporting fandom.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk set B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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