The Men’s Grand Final didn’t have the same clearly defined champ and challenger dynamic as the Women’s one did. For starters, the defending champs were Wellington Olympic and they didn’t even come close to qualifying this time. Sure, we had the perennial force that is Auckland City. But the Navy Blues had shown a few wobbles in recent weeks, losing consecutively at home due to last-minute goals conceded against Western Springs and the Wellington Phoenix Reserves. ACFC rallied back superbly with a late win of their own to beat Napier City, the wonderkid Stipe Ukich with the goal, and then brushed aside Coastal Spirit 5-1 thanks to a legendary 151-second hatty from Myer Bevan to qualify for the final. But they only qualified in second. And the cracks in the armour had been there for all to see along the way.

Birkenhead United, on the other hand, lost 3-1 to Auckland City in week one yet had been undefeated ever since. Roaring their way to the top of the table thanks to their high-energy, high-intensity football. No team ever works harder than Birko... yet somehow they still save their best for the latter parts of games with 9/23 goals coming in the final fifteen minutes plus stoppages. Very abnormal things – usually the big energy teams start fast and then tire. Birkenhead start fast and stay fast. They finished ahead of Auckland City. They had the extended form streak heading to North Harbour Stadium. Then again... they also hadn’t beaten ACFC in four previous attempts this year, drawing once and losing once in the Northern League before going down 4-2 in extra time of the Chatham Cup semis and then of course that MNL defeat. Very difficult game to predict beyond the absolute guarantee of ceaseless action.

Birkenhead settled on a very stable line-up across the course of these Nats. They stuck with it for the decider. Four of the past five games have seen this exact eleven from Birko. Croatian goalkeeper Silvio Rodic. Andrew Cromb, Dino Botica, and Jaylen Rodwell across the back three. Irishman Dylan Connolly as one wing-back, Haris Zeb as the other. Leon van den Hoven and Luke Jorgensen in the midfield. Curtis Hughes ahead of them, the youngest bloke in the walk-on side at 20 years of age. Monty Patterson and Daniel Bunch, who combined for 15 goals between them, were up front. Excellent team. Everybody in good form. Albeit not a huge amount of big game experience, you’d have to say. Jorgensen is the only player remaining from the 2018 Chatham Cup triumph for Birkenhead Utd. Patterson’s got his international caps and Silvio Rodic has been around the scene for a long time. Doesn’t quite compare to Auckland City and all their past champions though.

Auckland City have undergone a mini-rebuild across the year. They lost Cam Howieson and Liam Gillion to the A-League and, curiously, they effectively replaced those two with Kailan Gould and Jerson Lagos. Definitely not the typical ACFC signings - these guys are dribblers much more than passers. Chuck in the emergence of Stipe Ukich and this is a City team with a few more variations than usual. But the core remains the same. Conor Tracey wore the gloves. Yuki Aizo has popped up recently at right-back, coinciding with the team’s return to winning ways, so he stayed on for the final. The main men Adam Mitchell and Michael den Heijer were in the middle of defence. Nathan Lobo on the left. Mario Ilich holding midfield extraordinaire. Gerard Garriga and Kailan Gould operated ahead of him, Gould having won this spot with a tremendous run of impactful performances over the past month since returning from injury. Then, interestingly, there was a return to the starting side for Stipe Ukich with Jerson Lagos on the other wing and of course it was Myer Bevan up front. That meant Dylan Manickum was on the bench after starting all nine games to this point. Angus Kilkolly, who scored a hatty against Birko in that cup semi, was also on the bench. Capped international Ryan de Vries joined them. Stacked for depth as always, this lot.

(The commentary box was pretty stacked too, just quietly, with yours truly on the mic).

Birkenhead were always going to try and start fast and no surprises that’s exactly what happened. But they’ve not scored many early goals this year and Auckland City haven’t conceded many either so other than a Hughes shot straight at Tracey, Auckland City were able to hold firm and repel the threat. City’s centre-backs were winning heaps of headers and soon enough they were moving things further from their own goal. It was tough work out there for Myer Bevan, often isolated up top, putting in the hard yards trying to hold the ball up against Botica and pals. Patterson and Bunch were having more joy in those situations. Good battles across the park. Clear chances were still at a minimum though, the defences were just too solid.

How do you break down a set defence? Well, if you get at them before they get set then you don’t have to worry about it. Midway through the first half, Birkenhead did that thing where they get the ball wide to Connolly in a crossing position. That thing they do all the bloody time. Except on this occasion, Connolly was only two-thirds of the way up the pitch when he curled a very early ball into the area that caught the ACFC backline out of shape. Tracey was expecting something deeper and was caught out of position as Monty Patterson crept between the CBs to nod that sucker home for 1-0. Connolly with his fifth assist of the term. Patterson with his eighth goal. That’s the way to do it.

The goal gave Birko confidence and, better yet, it kept their travelling support in full voice. Bit of a different view to the balcony at Shepherd’s Park but just as crowded and even louder. And, you know, if their team could have just taken it into half-time with that lead then the party would have been raging.

But that’s not what happened. Auckland City had only limited moments in that half yet they found a huge one in the 43rd minute when Bevan, finally, got isolated on Botica with good body position. He collected a pass into the area from Ilich, held it up for a sec, then slipped in Kailan Gould who got to the byline and squared for Garriga at the back stick. Jorgensen had no choice to attack it. It was going to be a goal otherwise. It turned out to be a goal anyway, an own goal. Unlucky. One sudden flash from ACFC and they were level.

The second half was defined by three incredible moments. Two of them defensive, one of them legislative. It was around ten mins into the spell when Mario Ilich took a snapshot from a corner kick scramble. Silvio Rodic made a good low save there but Myer Bevan was on hand to poke the ball in on the rebound. Except that he didn’t because Rodic saved that too. Diving one way then diving back the other. Bevan was less than two metres off the line. It was a spectacular, jaw-dropping, unreal piece of goalkeeping. Well worthy of the fist pump celebrations from Rodic and the gasps from around the stadium.

That chance came amidst what was a very different Auckland City outlook after half-time. Having gotten back on level terms, they were able to keep more of the ball and they were able to keep it in Birko’s half. That meant that the way in which Bevan had been isolated in the first half, scrapping away just to hold the ball up long enough for any teammates to get around him, was suddenly what was happening to Patterson instead. It was a numbers game. City pushed Birko back the way that Birko had previously pushed City back. But Birko had survived that big chance thanks to Rodic’s heroics and they’d survive plenty more thanks to Botica and lads at the back. They even survived a penalty decision against them inside the last ten mins. Ukich’s cross had his Connolly turning his back on it. Penalty given for handball. Birko were furious, they were shocked, they were in disbelief.

Then the emotions turned to relief when the referee changed his mind and the penalty evaporated into the misty ether. I’ll admit I couldn’t actually see this properly from the position of the commentary box but what happened was that the replay went up on the big screen which clearly showed (via some great camerawork, credit where it’s due) that Connolly had his arm tucked within the ol’ silhouette. No way was that a handball... so the bro changed his mind. The decision was hidden by a sneaky run across to the lino for confirmation but that’s what happened: he saw the replay and realised he was wrong, so changed the decision. Technically, that’s not allowed. Technically, they also aren’t supposed to show replays of contentious decisions on the big screen. But from a utilitarian point of view, the correct call was made. If the ref cops flack for the process then they also deserve credit for showing some humility in service of the proper outcome. All’s well that ends well, as the bard said. We move on.

Just a couple of minutes later, Birkenhead found the glorious shining moment that they’d been waiting for. It was a great rising header from Botica off a corner kick, destined for the bottom corner of the net... when that fella Nathan Lobo lunged in the way and blocked it off the line with his knee. Superb mahi. Every bit as essential, in its own way, as that Rodic save up the other end. Both teams with a magnificent denial. Nothing to separate them. Extra time thus followed.

By now, Auckland City had already dipped deep into their regiment of substitutes. Reggie Murati was a straight swap for Lagos on the wing after 53 mins, the young Colombian-Kiwi having succumbed to the physicality of the game. Dylan Manickum followed on the hour. Then on 72’ both Kentaro Ozaki and Ryan de Vries were both sent out there. Angus Kilkolly would get on as extra time began. Five subs. Every one of them being hugely experienced and every one of them having a major impact on the game. In contrast, Birkenhead don’t like to use too many subs and those they had were mostly youngsters. It wasn’t until the 85th minute that Joby Reid replaced Haris Zeb as left wing-back. Semi Nabenu would come on for a cramping Jaylen Rodwell shortly after, while Troy Putt (96’) and Miles Palmer (106’) entered during extras. Remember that contrast because it was to prove definitive.

What also has to be said is that this game was played with superb mentality from both sides. Birkenhead were under the pump for a lot of the second half. They were hanging on at 1-1. Yet they made attacking changes and continued to play to win. Auckland City were the same. No hints of consolation in either direction. It had been an intense, hectic, and gruelling game from minute one to minute ninety and beyond and, with tempers occasionally threatening to boil (like when Haris Zeb rugby tackled Ukich in the first half for a yellow card to stop a counter and both Mitchell and Garriga were booked for arguing). But the positive attacking intent never faltered.

Birkenhead did find a second (or maybe it was more like fifth or sixth at this point) wind to begin the first stanza of extras. That led to one big chance as a Troy Putt run ended with the ball at Patterson’s feet, chopping his way into the area but shooting too close to Tracey who parried it clear. Penalties were definitely becoming a consideration... yet that’s now what the fates had in store. Nope, because with ten minutes to go, RDV held the ball up beautifully and flicked it past for Manickum dashing into the box. Manickum squared to an open Kilkolly... whose touch was rancid and the chance evaporated. But AK stayed with the play to win the ball back and a clever one-two with Manickum put him into an even better position from which he slipped a shot under Rodic for a triumphant winner.

Bit of a wind up doing the cheeky phone down celebration right in front of the Birko fans (there were some City flags behind them but pretty sure he knew what he was doing). Miles Palmer was sent off in the closing stages for a second yellow trying to stop a counter-attack. Birko ran out of time. The final whistle blew and Auckland City, for the second time in three years under this format and the tenth time overall, are the champions of men’s football in Aotearoa.

Ultimately, those substitutes made the difference. It was RDV, Manickum, and Kilkolly combining for the goal but even Murati and Ozaki had strong impacts themselves. These were guys that knew how to win games like this. They were leaders for the time when that characteristic is most valuable. It was a slight surprise to see the young fellas like Ukich and Lagos starting ahead of Manickum in particular (the others have had more regular sub roles) but you’d have to say that Albert Riera got that call bang on, ensuring that the steady heads were on the pitch when it mattered. It didn’t get to that stage but at least three of those subs would surely have been on the list to take penalties in a potential shootout.

Birkenhead put in yet another monstrous shift... but they did eventually run out of gas. Two of their defenders, Botica and Rodwell, had to be subbed for that reason. Botica was tremendous out there shutting down Bevan and winning all them headers. Superb work but it’s also tiring work. Same deal for Monty Patterson up front. There were some bright flashes from Curtis Hughes while the two wing-backs, Haris Zeb and Dylan Connolly, lived up to the hype. Let us not forget Silvio Rodic’s contributions either. But while Auckland City were able to replenish things along the way, Birkenhead were not. They had a clearer starters/substitutes divide. It is what it is. None can match ACFC for depth. If only that Botica header had gone in.

Hard to argue with Auckland City as the deserving victors given how they pretty much controlled that match from half-time onwards. Not without a few jump scares along the way but the way they adjusted after scoring that equaliser, the way they applied the clamps, it was always them that seemed a little more likely to score a second goal. And that’s exactly what happened. Too good. It was Mario Ilich who got the Steve Sumner Trophy for being the best player in the final. Frankly, it could have gone to several City players (though Ilich was certainly a deserving candidate) because there were no weak links. Myer Bevan’s unheralded work was enormous. Mike den Heijer and Adam Mitchell were brick walls at the back. Conor Tracey was really good, especially getting up and attacking those aerial deliveries. All of the subs helped raise the standards. This was a team performance. Knowing how to grab a victory. You know... the usual Auckland City things.

Just on Angus Kilkolly, his only start of the National League was in week one against Birko where he scored from the penalty spot (following his hatty against them in the CC semi). Since then he’s come off the bench in every single game. Nine straight sub appearances. Regardless, he’s still ended up with five goals and three assists. That is some super sub stuff right there.

There is one consolation for Birko because while they don’t get anything for specifically finishing first... they have at least earned another shot at Auckland City next year in the OFC Champions League qualifiers in February/March. The two sides will rematch over two legs for Aotearoa’s spot in the OCL. That’s how they do it these days. Also, gotta say, big respect with the guard of honour from Birko too. Very classy touch...

But in the end it was the inevitable Auckland City that got the job done. Back when these two teams met for the first time this year, during the Northern League, Birko were leading late until a Reggie Murati goal in the 87th minute made it a 2-2 draw. That was one of many such instances of ACFC being put in vulnerable positions where they needed a response... and usually they got one. The amount of times that they did so shows that this team wasn’t quite at their imperious best throughout the year. It also shows that they didn’t need to be because no team in this country rises to the occasion better or more often. Even these last few weeks, needing to win those final two games just to qualify for the final, they were able to pull it out of the bag. Mario Ilich spoke in his post-match chat about the resilience in this squad. The champion attributes that they possess. This is what that gets you.

Birkenhead United 1-2 Auckland City

Goals (Assists)

23’ | BU | 1-0 | Patterson (Connolly)

43’ | AC | 1-1 | Own Goal (Gould)

111’ | AC | 1-2 | Kilkolly (Manickum)

120+3’ | BU | RED CARD | Palmer

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