Michael Woud: Auckland FC goalkeeper previews the clash with the Wellington Phoenix

It’s a big weekend in football with the second NZ derby of the season kicking off tonight at Mt Smart Stadium.  

Auckland FC have dominating proceedings, winning all four matches, including a 6-1 demolition job the last time the two sides faced off in Auckland. 

However, the most recent match, a 2-1 Auckland victory, was a tense contest with the Black Knights holding on to win with only nine players on the field. 

Michael Woud, Auckland FC’s goalkeeper, joined D’Arcy to preview the match. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk SEDB.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
We're going to be covering the big game today in
Auckland City. It's the derby game between the visiting Wellington
Phoenix and of course AKFC Auckland at Football Club who
are hosting the second a derby of the year. And
with that we go to Dana Edwards after eight o'clock
from the Phoenix. But right here, right now, we're speaking

(00:33):
with goalkeeper Michael Vowd. He joins us on the program
to talk about what it means, how big this actually
is most recent match to two one victory for Auckland.
She was fairly tense then he had nine players on
the park at the time. This one should be cracking
and we joined by Michael. Now, good morning mate, how

(00:54):
are you?

Speaker 1 (00:55):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (00:56):
Good, really good? Excited for the game tomorrow on the
occasion be exciting?

Speaker 2 (01:01):
Well you should be. Is it what you carry into
a game? Because it's goalkeepers are a strange bunch. I'm
sure you've heard this before so I'm not quite sure
where their heads are at. So describe you when you
play a game, walking into a game, what you go
through and what energy you want to project.

Speaker 3 (01:19):
Yeah, so it's pretty it's pretty relaxed the game Dan Obviously,
when the game starts, it's just about trying to communicate
and is connected with the team as possible. Yeah, you've
got to keep quite a clear head as a goalkeeper
because it's quite a reactive sport. You never know what
you're going to get on any given day, So it's

(01:39):
just about being at a stable mental place and then
whatever comes dealing with it and you know, just doing
your best out there and helping the team when you can.

Speaker 2 (01:49):
Does that ability increase with time the long you've been
playing the game, the higher up the levels you go,
like international representation, a league, and how long you've been
if you noticed that that you can actually get that
clarity a lot more so now.

Speaker 3 (02:04):
Yeah, one percent. I think that's why goalkeepers play longer
than our food players, because you know, it's when you
get older, you see more situations and you get to
know yourself a lot better as well, and you know,
it's a completely different sport to an outfold player. So
you know, experience is a massive plus when you're.

Speaker 2 (02:24):
A goalkeeper when it comes to the game. This afternoon,
the sevening the derby is as rich ground for Auckland
left C not so much for Phoenix. The worm's got
to turn eventually. What are they going to bring? What
are you concerned about from a number one's point of
view about what Wellington are going to bring to this fixture.

Speaker 3 (02:45):
Well, obviously they came off a good win last week
and I think they're improving every week as a team.
So you know, we need to be, you know, a
lot better than we have been the last two weeks,
if you know, if we want to win, and we
know that, and we know the importance of the game
for the city and for the fans and everyone, and
you know, it's not a given that we're just going
to win another derby because we're one four in a row.

(03:06):
So we need to first win the battle and then
you know, implement our tactics and our game style onto
the onto the pitch.

Speaker 2 (03:14):
Joined a very weird situation, AKAFC, because you've been dominant
except for that one game last year. But I won't
talk about that because we weren't told off by Steve
Carrico because you know the season one successful I said,
well kind of stop that, So I'm not going to
get into that, but you're in a situation now where
you've not been dominant. Started off well, but it's got it,
it's got a bit pear shape in the last couple

(03:34):
of weeks. What do you put that down to and
how do you pull yourself out of that.

Speaker 3 (03:38):
Yeah, we've had a little bit of disruption with injuries
in that and you know, as we say, we started well,
but you know, also we're coming up against teams that
are playing us for the second season now when they
obviously know our strength and weaknesses a lot more. But yeah, overall,
we haven't been happy with the last two weeks out performance,
and especially at home. You know, we we would like
to think that playing at home is a fortress for

(04:00):
us like it was last season. So you know, that's
something that we're really looking to change, is making sure
that we don't lose games at home anymore. This season when.

Speaker 2 (04:10):
You played and you look at what the Phoenix did
as far as the way they pressed and then suddenly
they were down a goal that was extraordinary and then
you guys lost me and after man after man after
man still one was that a freak show? Can you
take anything out of that and reapply it or not?

Speaker 3 (04:27):
Yeah, I think the first half, the two goals we
scored was exactly what we spoke about. You know, that
was one of the things that we wanted to do,
was their high line. I think that's been talked about
a lot, and you know that was something that we
focused on, you know, as an opportunity to try to score.
But yeah, the second half was kind of just roll
up your sleeves and you know, we knew we were
you know, had the lead, but we were down two

(04:49):
men at that time. But we knew that we had
something to hold on to and just you know, show
a lot of character and and you know, as the
minutes take down, we knew we were getting closer and
close to that full time whistle, which gave us confidence
in what we were doing.

Speaker 2 (05:03):
Tell us about the crowd energy. You've played all over
the shop. Where do they rate as far as playing
the game and being out there in the middle. Where
do you stick their port?

Speaker 3 (05:13):
Yeah, probably at the top. You know, I've played in
some massive environments, but just the you know, weekend, week
out attendance is amazing and they really push the team.
I think that they've been amazing. The best fans in
the league by far, you know, if you look at
all the other games we've played, the home team hasn't
had the support that we have every week and that's
why it's difficult for teams to come and beat us

(05:36):
in Auckland because of the support we get. And yeah,
we're just making sure that we make sure that they
leave the ground as happy supporters after, you know, winning
the derby.

Speaker 2 (05:45):
Michael Baud, thanks so much for joining us, wishing you
the best. Get in there, cause a bit of a
ruck us give us three points.

Speaker 3 (05:52):
Yeah, I appreciate it. Chairs.

Speaker 1 (05:53):
Thank you for more from the All Sport Breakfast with
Darcy Watergrave. Listen live to News Talk sa'd be on
Saturday mornings, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.