A-League: Auckland FC's heads up play stands out
Auckland FC's Logan Rogerson scores.
Photo:
Shane Wenzlick / www.photosport.nz
Auckland FC players are heads above any other A-League semi-finalists this season - when using their head.
Of Auckland's 50 goals scored this season, 11 have been scored by headers, including Logan Rogerson's
goal on Saturday
, which is the difference going into the second semi-final against Melbourne Victory this weekend.
Auckland are ranked second in the A-League for headed goals.
The three other semi-finalists - Victory, Melbourne City and Western United - have all scored six times from headers.
Rogerson, who is Auckland's joint leading goal scorer, has scored nine goals this season. Four of them were headed home.
Defender Nando Pijnaker, who is 1.92 metres tall, has scored half of his four goals for Auckland from headers.
Nando Pijnaker scoring a goal during the A-League Men Round 24 match between Brisbane Roar and Auckland FC at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Photo:
Dave Hunt/ Photosport
Pijnaker is also part of Auckland's lofty wall in defence. He is leading the club in blocks and clearances.
On average, Auckland's starting 11 in the first semi-final on Saturday were taller than Victory, despite Victory having one of the tallest players in the league, defender Lachlan Jackson.
Jackson is 1.96 metres tall. Auckland's back-up goalkeeper Michael Woud is the same height. The next tallest player on the field on Saturday was Auckland's starting keeper Alex Paulsen, at 1.93 metres.
In front of Paulsen, and alongside Pijnaker, are Francis de Vries (1.88m), Hiroki Sakai (1.85m) and Dan Hall (1.84m).
Hiroki Sakai of Auckland FC heads the ball.
Photo:
AAP / Photosport
Captain Sakai scored one of his three goals with his head. Midfielder Louis Verstraete (1.87m) scored with a header against Macarthur FC and when Guillermo May (1.81m) is not scoring with his left foot he is netting with his head.
By comparison, Victory's goalkeeper Jack Duncan is listed at 1.89m with Josh Inserra and Kasey Bos both 1.80m and Brendan Hamill 1.85m among those starting at the back and charged with stopping Auckland finding a way to goal by head or foot.
Nikos Vergos and Nishan Velupillay are Victory's joint leading goal-scorers with seven goals this season. Vergos (1.84m) has scored twice from headers.
Clarismario Santos who started off the bench in the first semi-final has scored two of his four goals via headers for Victory.
Jason Geria who left Victory part way through the season to play in Japan scored once in 12 appearances - with a header.
Auckland FC's Francis de Vries up against Brisbane Roar FC's Ben Halloran.
Photo:
Shane Wenzlick / www.photosport.nz
Being able to elevate above other players is only one part of setting up a successful header. The ball needs to be in the right place to help make it happen.
De Vries' cross for Rogerson's goal in the first semi-final has been described by Victory player Daniel Arzani as a "nothing ball" but it is the kind of play that saw Auckland claim the
Premiers Plate
.
Something similar could be all Auckland need to get into the A-League Grand Final.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter
curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
7 hours ago
- RNZ News
Speedway deal: Proposal to sell Baypark stand for $1, extend lease
Speedway could stay at Mercury Baypark until 2039. Photo: Supplied/LDR The community is being asked if speedway should stay at Mercury Baypark Stadium as the council decides whether to extend the club's lease. Baypark Speedway has called the Mount Maunganui stadium home since it was built in 2001 and has a lease to operate there until 2029. Tauranga City Council is considering a proposal that would extend speedway operations until 2039. The proposal would involve Speedway Racing Ltd buying the north stand of 15,600 seats for $1 and being responsible for its maintenance, while leasing the land from the council through the facilities arm Bay Venues. The council would retain ownership of the land and the north stand would be returned to the council at the end of the lease in 2039 for $1. Under the proposal speedway would buy and maintain the curved north stand at Baypark Stadium. Photo: NZME via LDR Baypark Speedway promoter Melissa Webb said the proposal was its preferred option for running speedway in Tauranga. If the agreement was approved, Baypark Speedway would bring more events to Tauranga that would not be limited to just speedway, said Webb. "This will be a positive for the city." Speedway would prefer a longer lease than 2039 because of the investment it would make, she said. "We intend on investing a considerable amount of money into improvements at the stadium, and we need the security and longevity for our investment." Webb said it was understandable the council wanted Tauranga ratepayers to have their say on the proposal. Councillor Kevin Schuler said before decisions about the proposal were made, the council wanted to understand the community's views. "This consultation is about testing the community's support for the proposal and weighing up what Mercury Baypark Stadium's future should look like for the next decade." The proposal provided a way for speedway to continue operating without placing immediate costs on ratepayers, he said. "If there's not strong community support for this approach, we'll explore alternative options for the site beyond 2029." Schuler said the north stand was in poor condition and required investment to remain operational. It was used almost exclusively for speedway events, around 15 times a year. "If speedway continues until 2039, it would be under new arrangements that shift the immediate cost and responsibility for maintaining the stand to Speedway Racing." "If not, there are potential opportunities to reimagine the site for future recreational or commercial uses that could serve the wider community from 2029." Tauranga City Councillor Kevin Schuler at the inauguration on August 2, 2024. Photo: LDR/David Hall Speedway was at risk of being displaced in 2022 when the commission governing the council had plans to replace the stadium with a multi-use sporting precinct for outdoor netball, track and field athletics and gymnastics. A protest was held and a "Hands Off Baypark Speedway" campaign was launched. There was also the threat of legal action if an agreement about speedway was not reached. In September 2023, the plans were changed to keep the stadium and pits and allow speedway to retain its current lease until 2029. Consultation on the speedway proposal closes at 5pm on 23 June. A drop-in session with councillors will be held at Mercury Baypark Arena Suites on 14 June from 10am to noon. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
RNZ News
10 hours ago
- RNZ News
Ryan Fox and the All Whites - a collaboration made in Canada
Ryan Fox wins Canadian Open and the All Whites stop by to watch after Canadian Shield game Photo: Collage/Photosport Golfer Ryan Fox was closing in on a second PGA Tour win and the All Whites had just claimed one of their biggest victories in more than a decade - both things happened in Toronto, Canada - so it makes sense that New Zealand sporting stars crossed paths far from home. Eight All Whites, who are also handy with a golf club, were at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley to watch Fox win the Canadian Open in a play off with American Sam Burns. All Whites captain Chris Wood said he "was a lot more nervous watching" Fox win the title than he is playing football. "You can't control anything," Wood said of being a spectator to the big moment. "And seeing a fellow Kiwi doing so well it was exciting to see, he's done fantastically well and having that opportunity to be there and watch that bit of history for him and qualify for the US Open and things like that, it's fantastic. "He was a gentleman and gave us time after after his round, to speak to us and let us in on a little bit of information and how he played and things like that." The All Whites' trip to the golf was fully signed off by coach Darren Bazeley. "I think it was a great opportunity. On a day after a game we go through pretty good process with recoveries, so they spent all morning going through recovery process with the guys and they had an opportunity to go and follow the final round and Ryan being there doing so well I think it was great. "They were very well looked after, which was nice, and got themselves on the TV, which was cool. "I think that's part of our culture, following wherever we are in the world, finding and following Kiwis and connecting. It's a big part of what we try and do is connecting, so it was a good day." Would Fox be in the stands at the All Whites' next Canadian Shield game against Ukraine? "Unfortunately, he had to fly straight out to the US Open," Wood said. "He said he would have liked to but he has a bigger fish to fry this week and hopefully he can do some damage in the US Open this week." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
11 hours ago
- RNZ News
All Whites secure best win in more than a decade
The All Whites had their best win in more than a decade when they beat a country ranked 45 places higher than them in the world rankings on Sunday. The one nil victory over the world number 41 Ivory Coast was New Zealand's first win over a team ranked that high since 2010. New Zealand's next challenge is to back up that success against the world number 25 Ukraine tomorrow morning. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.
