Paul Ifill: former footballer on Auckland FC's loss to Melbourne Victory

There's shock and heartbreak among Auckland sports fans after Auckland FC loses out on the Grand Final.

The competition newcomers have been denied a trip to the grand final in their first year, beaten 2-1 on aggregate by Melbourne Victory.

Former footballer Paul Ifill joined Piney to discuss.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks edb It's Beldon.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
For Melbourne Victory have turned it around.

Speaker 1 (00:21):
From one nil.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
Down in the tie they leaded to to one two
nil on the night. Melbourne Victory's fans come flooding towards
the Uruguay and turned to Australian and Bruno FORDA Rolie
with goal number one hundred and twelve in the A
League has Kevin Melbourne Victory the advitage in the city

(00:46):
and they held onto it.

Speaker 3 (00:47):
Melbourne Victory winning two nil on the night too one
on aggregate. They advanced to the Grand Final next week
and Auckland FC's season is over. Former Wellington Phoenix striking
our football analyst and commentator Paul eifelers with us, Paul,
you watch on from sideline last night before the game
heading into this one. Did you see this coming Melbourne
Victory with the smash and grab?

Speaker 4 (01:09):
I didn't. I didn't, But then when I saw the
demeanor I suppose of after dinners before the game, I
was a little worried, little confirmed because I thought he
was so confident coming with a team that hadn't scored
a goal against them, hadn't won a game against them,
and he duly delivered that plan and changed his shape,
which led to a lot of problems for Auckland, who

(01:32):
couldn't really find a way. They did have a couple
of opportunities, and obviously we'll probably talk about the disallowed
goal in a minute, but it was a pretty cagy
affair and I think it suited Victory more than it
did Auckland on the night.

Speaker 3 (01:44):
Yeah, I don't want to talk about that this allowed goal.
But in terms of Victory's performance, where were they better
specifically than Auckland FC last night?

Speaker 4 (01:54):
I think in both boxes. I thought they defended really
well and kept Auckland to just a couple of chances,
and although they didn't create too much, they were really
efficient in front of goal. And I think it was
a really smart move by Dealers in putting in the
old campaigner in Faller early like the guy is a
special player, scored, you know, bundles of goals over the years,

(02:14):
been chomping at the bits to play this season, probably
not played as much as he would like, but he
was so hungry coming into this one, and you could
just see how animated he was after the game. He
knew how much this meant to everybody at victory.

Speaker 3 (02:25):
What good all calf, So you have done differently, have
done better?

Speaker 4 (02:29):
Oh blimey, But I think a lot a lot was
a lot of the problem was that Maya couldn't move
as well as he normally could. You has been brilliant
for them this season. I just don't think he was
quite up to it. Obviously, carrying an injury. Was always
going to play if he could and and always puts
in a shift. But I didn't think he was as
dynamic as he usually is, and that led to others

(02:50):
having to step up, and I just don't think they
quite did unfortunately. I mean, you're bringing on someone like
Gillian who's not scored a goal this year to try
and get you back in the game, and I don't
I don't know if Steve Collicker would have done much
different if he could have done it again, you know
he will rue the mischances in the first leg. Certainly
that the strike from Marina that hits put it inside

(03:11):
of both pos that goes into quite a different game
at home, and then obviously they disallowed goals is the
one they're going to hang their hats on which which
they duly and fairly should because I thought there was
a goal.

Speaker 3 (03:20):
Yeah, okay, well it's unpack at Auckland FC boss Steve
Carriker absolutely elemant that the goal should have stood. I'll
give a short view.

Speaker 4 (03:30):
Yeah. First of all, I thought maybe the ball has
gone out as it's been crossed, And as soon as
that was clear that it hadn't, then I couldn't see
how they could be one hundred percent sure of the
ball's gone out and back in. I know you've got
a line of them there, but the fact that there's
no way that the bar can make a definitive call,
what a way to go. You know, that's just that's horrific.

Speaker 3 (03:52):
Had that goal gone in, and I know we're talking
hypotheticals here, that would have squared things up at two,
or would they have given Auckland F see the advantage
momentum wise? Do you think they would have brought it
home from there?

Speaker 4 (04:03):
I do, I do, But I think again, if you
spoke to victory, they'd have thought I could bump in
the road and we'll go and get the job done.
Because they certainly weren't out of the game at any
point and didn't look too flustered, so it's all lift
butts and maybes. But I think, yeah, to not have
that sand we'll never know, and I think that that's
the thing that will get Steve Concker in the in
the long term.

Speaker 3 (04:24):
And there is obviously a sense of disappointment and deflation
around today. It'll take a wall for these players to
pick themselves up. But how long will it be before
they can actually feel proud of what they've achieved across
the whole season.

Speaker 4 (04:36):
I think I think it'll be a little while yet.
I think that, like I said, I think if they'd
have been beaten fair and square, it's almost easier to take.
But I think they're probably feeling that it's been stolen
away from them, so they'll they'll be bitter for a
little while, but in a funny kind of way, I
think it will stand them in good stets. I think
they'd be super super hungry next season, and I'm not

(04:57):
sure that they wouldn't have been hungry anyway, but I
think they'll be even hungry. I mean, Steve was absolutely
devastated last night, so so angry, but I think he'll
go way and go Look, we were close, but it's
amazing work, but let's go again. So I think it's
Danner said long term yeah.

Speaker 3 (05:14):
And just on there, just to finish. Most of these
players are resigned for next year. There's the odd one
or two who might depart. We know Alex Paulson's going
for example. But can you see them going again or
will there be a degree of second season syndrome now
that everybody knows what they're up against when they take
on Auckland FC.

Speaker 4 (05:32):
I think I think there's too many smart people at
the club to let that happen. I really do. I
think that Bill Foley does things right. I think he's
got the right people in place. I think they will
regroup and they'll go again and I think, you know,
I expect them to be firmly in the in the
top four. Will they win the Minor Premiers again, that's
going to be really difficult. It's difficult for any team
to do that two years in a row, given them

(05:52):
nature of the league. But I think with a couple
of signers they clearly the goalkeeper. I think it's probably
Michael Wood's term to be the number one. I think
they'll go and get a number two. Obviously, if Maximata
does return to Shrewsbury, going to need another forward and
I think that's probably where they could do with strengthen anyway,
so they'll be in for a nine for sure. So

(06:14):
I think they are the two ends of the pitch
that they need to strengthen, and then maybe one more
in the middle of the parks or straight down the spine.

Speaker 3 (06:23):
Really great working alongside you as always last night. I
feel thanks for your chat this afternoon.

Speaker 4 (06:28):
Mate, Thanks Bidy, Thanks mate.

Speaker 3 (06:29):
That's Paul Eiffel with his view.

Speaker 1 (06:31):
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