Ah yes, the Southern Derby. Logan Park in Dunedin was the venue. For years the Canterbury United dynasty owned this league with Southern hovering around the very bottom of the table and the results reflected that chasm. But in recent years the results have flipped.
At the beginning of this round, Western Suburbs were last with comfortably the worst defence while Auckland City were first with the equal-best defence. Winless versus undefeated.
What we witnessed on Saturday afternoon at Mt Smart Stadium was a capital-e Event... but it was also just another game of football. Auckland FC versus Brisbane Roar. Three points on offer.
Heading into this international window, the All Whites had a rare opportunity. They’d managed to bag a 1-1 draw against the USA in their previous match and now they had two immensely winnable fixtures on the calendar
Wellington Olympic vs Eastern Suburbs shaped to be a doozy but not like Auckland City vs Cashmere Technical at Kiwitea Street. Auckland City had been far from flawless but they don’t need to be flawless in order to win games, they usually find a way.
Central Football were back at the lovely Massey University field for week three, having already lost 5-0 at this scene against West Coast Rangers and then having their week two trip to Dunedin postponed due to the extreme weather.
The Woodsman scores goals wherever he goes. After rustling the net against Chelsea, he’s now got four goals in seven matches this Premier League season. Comfortably on track to hit double-figures for the sixth time in his career
A Mediterranean Derby in only the second round of matches? We sure are spoiled. Wellington Olympic hosted this one at Martin Luckie Park having been blanked by Coastal Spirit in a week one draw
After both Wellington United and Canterbury United bathed in the afterglow of excellent week one victories, they also found themselves in the tricky spot where a bad result in the next round would potentially undo all that graft
What do we want to see out of the All Whites in a pair of October matches against Tahiti (in Vanuatu) and Malaysia (in Auckland)? That’s simple: Wins.
Another week and another Football Fern signing in the English Championship. Last time it was Michaela Foster joining Durham, this time it’s Jacqui Hand re-emerging from the wilderness with Sheffield United
The first weekend of National League is always special but much love to Mr Chris Greenacre for making it even more so by giving us a present with his team line-up.
A brand new season of glorious National League football in Aotearoa got underway with a couple of concurrent kickoffs in the Women’s competition. More on Central vs West Coast Rangers soon but first...
The new Women’s Super League season is underway in England but nothing has changed as far as CJ Bott is concerned. If she sees the ball, she’s still going to win the ball
Both of the NZ National Leagues are doing a stellar job of producing professional and international players. A-League clubs are scooping up prospects - not just the New Zealand teams either - and national age grade selectors are all over everything
Brighten up folks because a new National League season stands proudly out ahead of us. The cream of the winter season crop has qualified to take on the rest of the motu. Only six of last year’s MNL qualifiers are back again for the 2024 edition, with two of the newcomers having made it this far for the first time ever
All goals are good goals but some goals just hit on a whole different level, leaving you to wonder how exactly the net managed to stay hooked on when faced with the force of a ballistic missile
Following a disappointing performance in a 3-0 loss to Mexico, there were many valid questions bouncing around about the All Whites. Then came a 1-1 draw against the United States and suddenly the forecast is sunny again.
New Zealand teams don’t go to these youth World Cups to make up the numbers. Ever-expanding professional opportunities in Aotearoa and beyond mean more top level players are having their talent nurtured from a younger age
The Women’s Champions League is a beacon on the horizon every season and at a minimum the qualifying stages usually serve up a few kiwi interests. Vic Esson and Rangers were one of those interests this year... but the draw was not kind to them