Despite the reputation that Auckland United bring with them, making them favourites everywhere they go (except for that one time they went to China), there was actually nothing between them and Eastern Suburbs during the National League regular season. They drew with each other and they both lost to Wellington United. They also both beat everyone else beneath them... with the only exception being that Auckland United snatched a late winner (via a controversial penalty) at home against West Coast Rangers whereas Eastern Suburbs settled for a 0-0 draw in that fixture, knowing that it’d still work out better for them.

When they drew 1-1 in a midweek catch-up game earlier in the season, it was Eastern Suburbs who were on the brink of winning that one after Ruby Nathan’s goal early in the second half. But that was eventually cancelled out by a very late Ava Pritchard equaliser. The Lilywhites also beat AUFC late in the NRFL Premiership season in a key result that helped topple United’s title defence, whereas Auckland United came out on top in the Kate Sheppard Cup semi-final. Auckland United won the earlier to meetings – yes, this was the sixth time they’d faced off this year – but that doesn’t change the fact that there had been wins for each and a draw during those games. Forget the reputations, there was nothing in the evidence files to suggest anything other than a close, competitive grand final.

Regular Season Results (Ranked By Ladder)

The Line-Ups

Auckland United rested a few players for the 1-0 loss to Wellington Utd last week, which ended a 26-game unbeaten streak in the WNL dating back to October 2023 but ensured that everyone was fresh for the decider. Everyone except for Annalie Longo who was away with the Football Ferns... but she barely played during this National League anyway. Nope, Ben Bate’s side were entirely as expected with Hannah Mitchell in goal, a back four of Talisha Green, Jess Philpot, Alaina Granger, and Tupelo Dugan. Yume Harashima at the base of midfield with Chloe Knott and Kiara Bercelli ahead. Rene Wasi on the right wing. Zoe Benson on the left wing. And Siobhan Edwards up top.

Eastern Suburbs were equally predictable in how they lined up apart from the injury-enforced absence of Kenya Brooke. Because of that, they went with a back four and matched the 4-3-3 formation of their rivals. Corina Brown in goal. Nicole Mettam, Yuki Nishizono, Rebekah van Dort, and Charley March in defence. Stacey Martin, TJ Anderson, and Ella Findlay in midfield. Tayla O’Brien, Vicky Neuefiend, and Ruby Nathan in the forward line.

The Lilywhites got their defeat against Wellington Utd out of the way with early in the season so they hit this date up on a seven-match unbeaten streak during which they’d only conceded three times. That streak coincided exactly with Rebekah van Dort’s return to the club, funny that. Eastern Suburbs won in 2022. Auckland United won in 2023 and 2024 and were going for a three-peat to match what Canterbury United did a few years back. Here’s how it all went down.

The Game

It was a frantic, nervous beginning to the game with lots of turnovers, including from players who usually never give away turnovers. The pressure of the occasion always takes some getting used to and neither of these teams were willing to go gung-ho from the get-go. However, Suburbs were at least pressing well, utilising that frantic energy better by disrupting the play and scrapping for everything. Though Rene Wasi soon got moving for AU, sending a low cross slightly behind Edwards, so United did have some outlets.

It took 18 minutes for the Lilywhites to finally launch their new favourite move: the long throw. Even with Kenya Brooke injured, they’ve still got TJ Anderson who sends them just as far and even set up two goals direct from throws to O’Brien in the win against Petone last week. That first attempt was flicked on by Neuefeind but not to any particular threat. They’d keep at it all afternoon with Philpot and Granger doing excellent defensive mahi in those situations. Other than that, there was nothing much to speak of in terms of shots or goal-scoring opportunities. Just a couple hopeful ones from Suburbs and some swinging set pieces which each defensive unit dealt with confidently.

Multiple injury stoppages then took some steam out of what was at least a feisty contest to that point... and it was right after Ella Findlay’s rolled ankle had gotten some extended attention that Auckland United all of a sudden took the lead. They had a throw thirty metres out which Chloe Knott touched back to Talisha Green. Green whacked it into the mixer where it dropped perfectly between the backline and goalkeeper, nobody quite sure who should claim it. And it was former Eastern Suburbs starlet Zoe Benson who got there on the volley. Brown saved the initial attempt but Benson converted the second. Out of nothing came the crucial opening goal.

The rest of the half was full of action. Benson and Knott both went close with long shots for United while their goalie Mitchell had to be sharp against a Nathan shot. Not to mention those ongoing Anderson long throws. But the half-time whistle had it 1-0 to the two-time defending champs and then the second half largely resembled the first half with lots of duels and not very many shots. Neuefeind did get Mitchell on the dive with a crack on 60 mins, leading to a few corners for Suburbs (van Dort put a header on target from one of them). Things were just starting to open up again and that’s when both coaches chose to go to their benches. Emma Rolston on for AU; Zoe Brazier and Cema Nasau on for ES.

Dunno how Auckland Utd didn’t double their lead when Edwards, having moved out to the wing with Rollo on, swung in a wicked cross that Nishizono intervened with but almost turned it into her own net, Van Dort then somehow shielding Knott from tapping in after Brown’s parried save. Knott banged into the post as she jostled for that one. The Lilywhites survived that scare but they were beginning to run out of time. That United defence only conceded a goal every 270 minutes throughout the regular season and Suburbs found themselves still trailing with 25, 20, 15 to go. Having conceded a late equaliser against this same lot a few weeks ago, now Suburbs had to do the same thing in reverse in the biggest game of the year.

On came Danielle Canham and Ellie La Monte-Whyte for United. Nishizono nearly fizzed one into the top corner from way back but it didn’t quite drop in time. Ten minutes to go. Rolston snapped an attempt narrowly wide at a point when a second goal would surely sealed the deal for United. Benson also sliced wide. Amelia Hitchcock, Madeleine Dwyer, and Sam Tawharu were all subbed on for Subs. Five minutes to go. Canham went close to a clincher but her strike flew over. Suburbs were struggling to find an anchor in the attacking half. Six minutes of added time. Ava Pritchard on for AU. Eastern Suburbs went as close as they had all arvo when Nathan shook of a challenge at the byline and pulled back for Tawharu... who couldn’t keep her first-time shot down. And then the final whistle sounded and Auckland United had done it.

The Champions

Zoe Benson got the Player of the Day honours, not an easy award to select in a game like this where nobody really stood out from the crowd. It could as easily have gone to Alaina Granger or even Rebekah van Dort (particularly if Suburbs had converted that late chance and taken it to extra time). Talisha Green was another strong performer. But in a game that tense, that balanced, that rugged… it makes sense to recognise the player who provided the one shining moment that decided the fate of the championship. Zoe Benson has been one of the most consistently excellent players in this squad all term, returning from the Oceania U19s to deliver her usual quality as an inverted left winger. Five goals and two assists all up, including the final, having to adjust her game in a team with so many focal points and still finding ways to deliver the goods. Bit harsh to do that to her old teammates but that’s how it goes.

Three in a row for Auckland United, matching the exploits of Canterbury United in 2018, 2019, 2020. They didn’t have it easy by any means, this was a typical grand final with hardly anything to split the teams but Auckland United did that thing that the champion teams do by finding a way. As they’ve done all season. The early rounds were goalfests but only one of their previous six games was won by a margin of more than two goals. This is a team that knows how to win, whatever it takes. They’ve set a new standard in kiwi domestic football and if they had to work a little harder for it this year then that’s only because other clubs have risen to the challenge. This was the closest Women’s National League in ages, maybe ever, with at least four teams legitimately capable of winning this thing.

But the one that did win was the one that always wins. Auckland United didn’t hold their NRFL Premiership crown, West Coast Rangers took that off them, but they have defended the National League as well as their Kate Sheppard Cup and Oceania Champions League victories. Still got themselves a treble for 2025.

Auckland United In The Past Three Years

  
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NRFL PremiershipChampionsChampionsRunners-Up
Kate Sheppard CupRound ThreeChampionsChampions
OFC Champions LeagueN/AChampionsChampions
National LeagueChampionsChampionsChampions

The easiest criticism is that they sign all the best players... which is true but not to the extent that people probably imagine. Sure, they did pick up Kiara Bercelli coming back from a few professional seasons in Italy. Bercelli was quiet in the final but had been outstanding in the weeks before. Getting Zoe Benson from Eastern Suburbs was a big deal too, she was such a reliable source of creativity throughout this campaign. But Chloe Knott’s been there for a couple of years, she might be worthy of getting back to a higher level but she’s fully committed to this AUFC cause.

Annalie Longo’s addition was perhaps a little extra... so it’s worth pointing out that Longo only played two games (one start, one sub) during the National League. Ava Collins only played the first three, disappearing soon after the Wuhan trip. Emma Rolston was returning after two years of injuries and mostly only featured off the bench. Kiwi-Aussie additions like Shev Edwards and Ellie La Monte were nice additions though not as impactful as imports like TJ Anderson or Vicky Neuefeind at Suburbs or returning pros like Maggie Jenkins and Amelia Abbott at Wellington United or even wider NRFL talent like Maddi Ollington and Britney Cunningham-Lee at Western Springs. All the top teams made key additions for the National League... except maybe West Coast Rangers, though they did get good value out of Anjelina Ujdur and Leila Butler as young kiwis coming back from playing in Australia.

Nah, Auckland United are the best team because they’re the best team, simple as that. Other than Talisha Green, their defence was largely rebuilt this year and they didn’t go signing ex-Phoenix players for that... they just had Jess Philpot and Alaina Granger step up with expanded roles, maintaining an incredible defensive record – this grand final took them to seven clean sheets from ten matches. If anything, they were a little too wasteful in attack, not converting their chances like they’ve done in previous years, perhaps lacking that reliable presence up top after Ava Collins dipped away. Another aspect of this team: accounting for La Monte and Edwards being dual nationals, that means that Hannah Mitchell (USA) and Yume Harashima (Japan) were the only two non-NZ eligible players to take the field for them in this final. Unless you want to count Chloe Knott, dunno if she’s eligible yet. And while they didn’t get on the pitch, recent NZ U17 World Cup reps Ariana Vosper and Piper O’Neill were in the matchday squad so don’t think AUFC don’t have the youth talent rising through either.

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