WelClasico and Auckland clash against Wanderers thrills Premiership weekend

The most important football league in New Zealand comes to action again this weekend with very interesting clashes. The derby of Wellington – Wel Clasico – will take place at Porirua Park when Phoenix Reserves face Team Wellington. Auckland City and Eastern Suburbs will hope to continue their good form so far as they face Hamilton Wanderers and Southern respectively at home. The contention for the four top spots continue in high voltage in ISPS Handa Premiership.

Team Wellington is really not luck; the current 2nd placed side in the table will face the Phoenix Reserves exactly in the week the first team Wellington Phoenix is in a bye-week from the Australian A-League. The first team players Oli Sail, Matti Steinmann, Alex Rufer, Brandon Wilson, Liam McGing, Sam Sutton, Ben Waine and Callan Elliot will all be taking place in Phoenix Reserves side. To complete the drama, the match will be played away from their home, the David Farrington Park and they will not count with two very important players: Hamish Watson and Ollie Bassett, both players were key for the team in the season, but they departed from the club to play NPL in Melbourne, Australia.

Team Wellington is six points away Auckland City in the top of the table and they really need a win to keep in the contest. While they will have a harsh challenge, the coach Paul Temple will try to take advantage from the players he will have in action to take all points from the clash for the second round in a row – as they come from a 2-0 victory away from home against Hawke’s Bay.

Southern could recover from a harsh defeat against Tasman two weeks ago as they came from behind to beat Canterbury United in Dunedin by 2-1. The goal of Andrew Cromb was crucial and gave the home side the win at the 85th minute of play.

They will be facing a hard opponent this weekend, away from home in Auckland the Eastern Suburbs finally found their perfect balance. The club won without much dificulties the good side of Hamilton Wanderers by 3-0 with a brace of Uruguyan striker Martin Bueno. A win can put the Lilywhites tied up with Team Wellington in the 2nd position if the side from Wellington loses their match in the round.

Auckland City continues six points clear in the top of the table, but they come from a 0-0 draw against Team Wellington at David Farrington Park in the derby. They will be back at Kiwitea Street and will hope to count with the goals of Myer Bevan to beat Hamilton Wanderers.

Hamilton suffered a harsh defeat imposed by Eastern Suburbs last weekened, the team coached by Kale Herbert will need to be at its best to grab an upset in Auckland against the current 1st placed side. The likes of Derek Tieku and Tommy Semmy will need to be in form to threat the defensive led by Brian Kaltak and Adam Mitchell.

A very interesting clash will take place in Nelson as the home side Tasman United faces Hawke’s Bay United. Both sides come from a defeat in their previous mathces – Waitakere was twice behind the scoreline, but could still win by 3-2 Tasman and Hawke’s Bay was surprised by a fast Wellington Phoenix Reserves to lose by 2-0 at Bluewater Stadium.

The team from Nelson will hope their talented attack led by Jean-Phillipe Saïko can cause problems for the strong central-back and also coach of HBU Bill Robertson. The young Jesse Randall is being a standout for the team coached by Jess Ibrom, as well the newcomer midfielder Ben Watson that already scored twice in the season since his signing – including a thunderbolt free kick in his last match against Waitakere.

Hawke’s Bay is certainly needing the goals from Dylan Sacramento and specially from the North-American Ahinga Selemani. In the previous weeks both players could not help their side as before to get their so needed victories, what made the team from Napier to leave their place inside the top four in the standings.

Waitakere is back to the top four of the season as they managed to bounce back and win Tasman at home by 3-2. The absolute fantastic goal of Jake Porter gave him the ‘Player of the Week‘ award, but it was the captain Sam Burfoot that scored the winner for the former OFC Champions League winners.

Canterbury was not succesful in their trip to Dunedin after suffering a heartbreaking comeback in the final minutes of the game. Now, at English Park, the team coached by Lee Padmore will hope to count with the goals of George King to leave the last place in the standings; the team reached the semifinals of the league last season and they will be certainly willing to be back to the final part of the season still in contetion for the national glory.

You can see the full results, standings and top goalscorers of the season so far by visiting the section of the ISPS Handa Premiership in our site.