August 30, 2025 • 8 mins
Victorian football club Heidelberg United have knocked Auckland FC out of the Australia cup after a 2-0 result.
Heidelberg United continue their winning streak against big A-league names, with this victory marking their third in a row.
Auckland FC coach Steve Corica joins Jason Pine to break down what went wrong, and what needs fixing following their knockout from the cup.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk zed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Professional Victorian football club Heidelberg United meantime, have continued their
remarkable giant killing run, making the Australia Cup Final, this
time beating Auckland FC two nil for a third straight
win over a league opposition. They took the lead in
the seventy fifth and then scored a second in the
eighty fourth minute to claim a to nil victory. Auckland
FC coach Steve Curriker is with us from the airport
(00:34):
about to fly out. Not your night, Steve, how do
you reflect on the game last night?
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Yeah, not our night.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
In the two boxes, I think we couldn't break them down,
and obviously we made a couple of errors that cost goals.
So I think general play throughout the ninety minutes we
will Obviously we dominated, we had most of the ball,
we had our chances as well to take the lead,
and we didn't capitalize on our opportunities.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Are they easy fixes or certainly the attacking end Is
that something thing that's relatively straightforward to work on.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Yeah, of course, you know, some some days it goes in,
some days it doesn't you know, we created the chances defensively.
Obviously a couple of errors individual players, you know, they
can be fixed. So obviously we've got a fair bit
of work to do before the start of the season.
Still there's still plenty of time new players coming in
(01:30):
and adapting to the to the new style of play
and what.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
We expect as well.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
But overall, obviously a disappointing night to to not have
gone through into a into a final.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Was it was, you know, and then you know we
respected them.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
They've obviously beat two other A League teams before before
us and we knew what was ahead, and yeah, we
couldn't get the job done.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
How do they compare Heidelberg to some of the sides
you play in the A League?
Speaker 4 (02:02):
To be fair, they're a very disciplined team defensively, very strong.
They're a big, big team as well, big strong team
at the back and you know that you can see
him working very very well as a team. So you know,
they haven't considered a goal in the cup and that's
a big part of the reason why they've they've gone
through similar probably similar our game to the Wanderers game.
(02:24):
You know, the Wanderers had a lot of the ball
and couldn't break them down and get and got caught
on the counter and and that's similar to what happened
last night.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Goalkeeper Michael vad probably thinks he might have done better
with one or both of the goals. Do you have
to get around him today?
Speaker 4 (02:40):
Well, I'm flying to Sydney today so I won't be
getting around him. So yeah, I think he'd be probably disappointed. Yeah,
he's not the only one that made mistakes for the goal,
but yeah, obviously he'd be disappointed in definitely the first goal,
I think so, But a game, you know this, this happens,
We make mistakes and it's it's how he learns from
it and how he goes in the next games after that.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
You've brought Olie Sail to the club obviously as well.
Is that a very much a live conversation around who
will start for you when the A League season begins.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Well, obviously we've got two very good goalkeepers. We did.
We did last year as well.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
Alex had a wonderful year and obvious he has gone
on now to think he's sign in Poland, so.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
And yees this year is no different.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
We brought Olie in Obviously Michael's got first choice at
the moment, and you know, obviously he's he's got to
keep playing well and obviously the mistake last night probably
didn't help him, but you know, obviously.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
It's only one mistake.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
He's played really well in the first couple of games
as well and kept clean sheets. Yeah, he'll continue in goals,
but Olie's obviously they're just in case.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
You've integrated a couple of outfield players and your side
as well. You alluded to it before English striker Sam
Cosgrove's coming. Australian Lockey Brook. How have they fitted into
your environment early on?
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Really good?
Speaker 4 (04:02):
I think the players have made them feel really welcome,
did him really well. Obviously Sam's only been here two
weeks and he's been away for one of them, so
it's yeah, so he hasn't seen too much of Auckland,
but Locke's fitted in really well as well. I think
one of the chances came from both of them last night.
Lockybrook played a nice little bore through for Sam and
(04:23):
Sam probably should have scored, I think so, and they
probably would have got us one nill up. And you
know that's how you know the games. Games can change
like that. You know that, But yeah, obviously we didn't
take our chances when when they came.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Your preseason program was affected quite considerably by the rescheduling
of this game. It was brought forward by two weeks,
reportedly because Heidelberg had booked an end of season trip
to Vegas. How disruptive has this been for Auckland FC.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Yeah, obviously it's not ideal.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
We made it very clear we didn't want to play
the game this weekend because it's supposed to be into
another two weeks time. So, you know, I've said it before,
it's poor planning from the f You know, I think
you can change the game for two or three days,
but if you're talking about three weeks or two weeks away,
it's not ideal for us, especially we've already sanctioned the
(05:16):
game against the wanders They knew that. Obviously it didn't
matter to them and they want to just make sure
that we played it on that weekend, so we had
no other choice, but obviously it was an ideal. We
stayed in Sydney the whole week. We didn't get to
play Wanderers either, so obviously they were not very happy
with us as well.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
And then you know, obviously we stayed and we lost.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
So if it's probably been a it hasn't been the
best of weeks.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Western Sydney can't be annoyed with you can. It's not
your decision, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Of course not, it's not. It's not our decision.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
I think after Terry explained the tool, I think they understood. So,
but you know that's you know, we we try as
a professional club to play in our pre season. It's
obviously difficult for us as well, being in Auckland, we
to go to a store, it's costly as well, so
we try to try to make the most of it
(06:11):
with obviously the Sydney games and then follow it up
by a wondrous game.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
But yeah, it obviously didn't work out that way.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
And now you know, preseason, you know, there's no Cup
games for us anymore, so we have to obviously start
planning some other other games that we can we can
sort of get now until the start of the season.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Yeah, well September tomorrow. Season starts in mid October, so ideally, Steve,
what will the next sux or seven weeks look like
for Auckland FC before the season starts.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
Well, you boys get a deserved five days break which
they were supposed to get last week. So hopefully they
come back fresh and ready to go again for pre
season and you know, we'll play obviously some local teams
and then yeah, obviously if we can get to Sydney
it would be it would be good as well to
(07:00):
get a couple of matches against a league opposition before
we start the season.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Well, some players don't get a like do they five
all whites and your squad, Well, they just go straight
to Canberra for Friday's game against Australia.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
Yeah, yeah, they'll be flying out from from Melbourne to Canberra.
So obviously the five four Whites and also Jake Brimmers
in the Maltese national team as well, So there's six players.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
That will you know, won't get a break.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
Maybe they'll get one of one or two days off
when they get back, but obviously they won't get the
longer break that the boys other boys have.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
It's a former soccer rue but now boss of Auckland Deaf,
So do you cheer four in this upcoming series?
Speaker 4 (07:37):
Yeah, it's obviously I'm very pleased to have you know,
five players in the national team, but I am an
Aussie even though they didn't really treat us that well
in this match against Heiderberg. But yeah, you know, I've
represented my country and I'm very proud ofsy and you
know I will be supporting Australia, but obviously with a
(07:58):
keen eye on our boys making sure they do really
well if they get opportunities as well.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
And not get injured. Obviously that's the other ones. Not
get injured both.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Well, that's the main thing. Yeah, I said that to
him last night.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
Obviously, have all the best and you know, just come
back safe. That's that's my main concern, that these players
come back safe and and you know ready for pre
season when we get back.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Did you get a bit of verbal from the crowd
last night.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
No, I'm talking about the fat gotcha.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Good to know, Good to clarify. And have you Have
you managed to binge watch the entire eight episodes of
Forever Auckland f C on Sky.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
I haven't not yet.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
No.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
I think when I get back to Auckland I can
do that. My family is looking forward to it, but
obviously we can't get in a show at the moment,
so we'll see what when they come over on holidays
and they can watch it as well.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Well, enjoy it well and break Steve. Thanks for joining us, mate,
We'll see you back in Auckland.
Speaker 3 (08:52):
Thanks Bine.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Cheers man, cheers mate. That is Steve Cricker, coach of
Auckland f C.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk said Be weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk zed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Professional Victorian football club Heidelberg United meantime, have continued their
remarkable giant killing run, making the Australia Cup Final, this
time beating Auckland FC two nil for a third straight
win over a league opposition. They took the lead in
the seventy fifth and then scored a second in the
eighty fourth minute to claim a to nil victory. Auckland
FC coach Steve Curriker is with us from the airport
(00:34):
about to fly out. Not your night, Steve, how do
you reflect on the game last night?
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Yeah, not our night.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
In the two boxes, I think we couldn't break them down,
and obviously we made a couple of errors that cost goals.
So I think general play throughout the ninety minutes we
will Obviously we dominated, we had most of the ball,
we had our chances as well to take the lead,
and we didn't capitalize on our opportunities.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Are they easy fixes or certainly the attacking end Is
that something thing that's relatively straightforward to work on.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Yeah, of course, you know, some some days it goes in,
some days it doesn't you know, we created the chances defensively.
Obviously a couple of errors individual players, you know, they
can be fixed. So obviously we've got a fair bit
of work to do before the start of the season.
Still there's still plenty of time new players coming in
(01:30):
and adapting to the to the new style of play
and what.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
We expect as well.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
But overall, obviously a disappointing night to to not have
gone through into a into a final.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Was it was, you know, and then you know we
respected them.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
They've obviously beat two other A League teams before before
us and we knew what was ahead, and yeah, we
couldn't get the job done.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
How do they compare Heidelberg to some of the sides
you play in the A League?
Speaker 4 (02:02):
To be fair, they're a very disciplined team defensively, very strong.
They're a big, big team as well, big strong team
at the back and you know that you can see
him working very very well as a team. So you know,
they haven't considered a goal in the cup and that's
a big part of the reason why they've they've gone
through similar probably similar our game to the Wanderers game.
(02:24):
You know, the Wanderers had a lot of the ball
and couldn't break them down and get and got caught
on the counter and and that's similar to what happened
last night.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Goalkeeper Michael vad probably thinks he might have done better
with one or both of the goals. Do you have
to get around him today?
Speaker 4 (02:40):
Well, I'm flying to Sydney today so I won't be
getting around him. So yeah, I think he'd be probably disappointed. Yeah,
he's not the only one that made mistakes for the goal,
but yeah, obviously he'd be disappointed in definitely the first goal,
I think so, But a game, you know this, this happens,
We make mistakes and it's it's how he learns from
it and how he goes in the next games after that.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
You've brought Olie Sail to the club obviously as well.
Is that a very much a live conversation around who
will start for you when the A League season begins.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Well, obviously we've got two very good goalkeepers. We did.
We did last year as well.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
Alex had a wonderful year and obvious he has gone
on now to think he's sign in Poland, so.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
And yees this year is no different.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
We brought Olie in Obviously Michael's got first choice at
the moment, and you know, obviously he's he's got to
keep playing well and obviously the mistake last night probably
didn't help him, but you know, obviously.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
It's only one mistake.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
He's played really well in the first couple of games
as well and kept clean sheets. Yeah, he'll continue in goals,
but Olie's obviously they're just in case.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
You've integrated a couple of outfield players and your side
as well. You alluded to it before English striker Sam
Cosgrove's coming. Australian Lockey Brook. How have they fitted into
your environment early on?
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Really good?
Speaker 4 (04:02):
I think the players have made them feel really welcome,
did him really well. Obviously Sam's only been here two
weeks and he's been away for one of them, so
it's yeah, so he hasn't seen too much of Auckland,
but Locke's fitted in really well as well. I think
one of the chances came from both of them last night.
Lockybrook played a nice little bore through for Sam and
(04:23):
Sam probably should have scored, I think so, and they
probably would have got us one nill up. And you
know that's how you know the games. Games can change
like that. You know that, But yeah, obviously we didn't
take our chances when when they came.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Your preseason program was affected quite considerably by the rescheduling
of this game. It was brought forward by two weeks,
reportedly because Heidelberg had booked an end of season trip
to Vegas. How disruptive has this been for Auckland FC.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Yeah, obviously it's not ideal.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
We made it very clear we didn't want to play
the game this weekend because it's supposed to be into
another two weeks time. So, you know, I've said it before,
it's poor planning from the f You know, I think
you can change the game for two or three days,
but if you're talking about three weeks or two weeks away,
it's not ideal for us, especially we've already sanctioned the
(05:16):
game against the wanders They knew that. Obviously it didn't
matter to them and they want to just make sure
that we played it on that weekend, so we had
no other choice, but obviously it was an ideal. We
stayed in Sydney the whole week. We didn't get to
play Wanderers either, so obviously they were not very happy
with us as well.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
And then you know, obviously we stayed and we lost.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
So if it's probably been a it hasn't been the
best of weeks.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Western Sydney can't be annoyed with you can. It's not
your decision, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Of course not, it's not. It's not our decision.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
I think after Terry explained the tool, I think they understood. So,
but you know that's you know, we we try as
a professional club to play in our pre season. It's
obviously difficult for us as well, being in Auckland, we
to go to a store, it's costly as well, so
we try to try to make the most of it
(06:11):
with obviously the Sydney games and then follow it up
by a wondrous game.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
But yeah, it obviously didn't work out that way.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
And now you know, preseason, you know, there's no Cup
games for us anymore, so we have to obviously start
planning some other other games that we can we can
sort of get now until the start of the season.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Yeah, well September tomorrow. Season starts in mid October, so ideally, Steve,
what will the next sux or seven weeks look like
for Auckland FC before the season starts.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
Well, you boys get a deserved five days break which
they were supposed to get last week. So hopefully they
come back fresh and ready to go again for pre
season and you know, we'll play obviously some local teams
and then yeah, obviously if we can get to Sydney
it would be it would be good as well to
(07:00):
get a couple of matches against a league opposition before
we start the season.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Well, some players don't get a like do they five
all whites and your squad, Well, they just go straight
to Canberra for Friday's game against Australia.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
Yeah, yeah, they'll be flying out from from Melbourne to Canberra.
So obviously the five four Whites and also Jake Brimmers
in the Maltese national team as well, So there's six players.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
That will you know, won't get a break.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
Maybe they'll get one of one or two days off
when they get back, but obviously they won't get the
longer break that the boys other boys have.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
It's a former soccer rue but now boss of Auckland Deaf,
So do you cheer four in this upcoming series?
Speaker 4 (07:37):
Yeah, it's obviously I'm very pleased to have you know,
five players in the national team, but I am an
Aussie even though they didn't really treat us that well
in this match against Heiderberg. But yeah, you know, I've
represented my country and I'm very proud ofsy and you
know I will be supporting Australia, but obviously with a
(07:58):
keen eye on our boys making sure they do really
well if they get opportunities as well.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
And not get injured. Obviously that's the other ones. Not
get injured both.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Well, that's the main thing. Yeah, I said that to
him last night.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
Obviously, have all the best and you know, just come
back safe. That's that's my main concern, that these players
come back safe and and you know ready for pre
season when we get back.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Did you get a bit of verbal from the crowd
last night.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
No, I'm talking about the fat gotcha.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Good to know, Good to clarify. And have you Have
you managed to binge watch the entire eight episodes of
Forever Auckland f C on Sky.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
I haven't not yet.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
No.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
I think when I get back to Auckland I can
do that. My family is looking forward to it, but
obviously we can't get in a show at the moment,
so we'll see what when they come over on holidays
and they can watch it as well.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Well, enjoy it well and break Steve. Thanks for joining us, mate,
We'll see you back in Auckland.
Speaker 3 (08:52):
Thanks Bine.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Cheers man, cheers mate. That is Steve Cricker, coach of
Auckland f C.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk said Be weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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