ISPS Handa Premiership is back to action

The most important football league of New Zealand is back to action: the ISPS Handa Premiership starts 2020 in style with important matches, the main one is the Super City Derby between Waitakere United and Auckland City.

The first match of the round will see the Wellington Phoenix Reserves receive Southern United in Wellington at Sky Stadium. The WeeNix comes from a frustrating 2-2 against Eastern Suburbs in their last match of 2019 – they went 2-0 in the first half and allowed the opponent to level the match in the final 45 minutes. Southern had a result that they can be proud of, as they hold the powerhouse Auckland City to a 0-0 draw in Dunedin.

The Super City Derby will be the most entertaining match of the round: with a long history of rivalry, Waitakere United will be playing at home against Auckland City. Waitak is doing a fine season so far, but dissapointed in their previous game as they suffered a last-minute equalizer against Team Wellington and dropped two points.

Auckland City comes stronger for the new year as they signed two very important player for the rest of the season. Myer Bevan continues his run as top goalscorer, but in the last two matches either him or his team scored – two 0-0 draws in a row against Eastern Suburbs and Southern.

Sunday will be the day for more three matches of the round. Canterbury United will play against Hamilton Wanderers in Christchurch – both sides come from important victories in their last round in 2019. Hamilton finally got back to their winning days with two wins in a row after a very frustrating start of season. Both sides have the same amount of points in the table – a clash that may decide who goes up and who sticks with the same nine points.

After losing against Canterbury United, Tasman will receive the defending champions Eastern Suburbs in Nelson. The last placed team in the rankings with just two wins in the season so far really needs the three points against the Lilywhites. The team coached by Jess Ibrom comes from two defeats in a row.

Eastern Suburbs, currently at 4th in the table, will hope the likes of Martin Bueno and Reid Drake – who scored in their last match against WeeNix – continue the good momentum this time away from Auckland.

One of the most entertaining games of the round will take place in David Farrington Park as Team Wellington faces Hawke’s Bay United. Team Wellington after a 1-1 draw away from home against Waitakere United will be hoping to continue their chase on Auckland City in the table. The 2nd placed is three points away the current leaders, but they will not have an easy challenge as they face the good side of Hawke’s Bay United that is surprising in the season so far stading in the 3rd spot in the standings.

Auckland City will hope to increase their points difference to the second and third placed teams and the mid-table placed clubs will battle hard to grab points to seek for a place into the top four. You can check the current standings of ISPS Handa Premiership here.