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RNZ News
27-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
A-League: season reviews and what's next for Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix?
Nando Pijnaker of Auckland FC collides with Corban Piper of Wellington Phoenix. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ With their defeat to Melbourne Victory in the A-League Finals Series semi-final on Saturday night, Auckland FC brought an end to a contrasting A-League Men's season for New Zealand's clubs. The Black Knights became the country's first ever Premiers in their debut campaign, but the Wellington Phoenix finished the campaign 11th and bottom of the form table - a big drop-off from last year's highs. So how does the RNZ scorecard read for Aotearoa's two professional football sides? And perhaps more importantly, what's next as they plan for 2025-26? Auckland Fc v Wellington Phoenix, Go Media Mt Smart Stadium. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ A-League Men's final position: 1st (Premier's Plate winners) Finals Series: Semi-finals (lost 2-1 to Melbourne Victory over two legs) Player of the Season: Louis Verstraete Auckland FC's Louis Verstraete gets a foot to the ball during the A-League match between Auckland FC and Western United FC at Go Media Stadium, Auckland. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ It's probably a testament to how well the Belgian started and finished the season that a mid-season dip still hasn't lost him this accolade in our eyes. Young Player of the Season: Alex Paulsen Alex Paulsen of Auckland FC celebrates a goal. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ What else can you say about this young man. It's time for him to move on from the A-League but he's been the outstanding stopper on trans-Tasman shores for the past two seasons and, at just 22, has plenty left to learn. Signing of the Season: Hiroki Sakai Hiroki Sakai of Auckland FC celebrates with the A-League Premier Plate Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ Technically, they were all new signings, so a tough one to actually answer but Sakai's signature was so important. He has led by example with stellar displays this season and his arrival added major credibility to the upstart club. Revelation of the Season: Francis de Vries Auckland FC's Francis de Vries up against Brisbane Roar FC's Ben Halloran. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / The Cantabrian went from a serious knee injury and amateur football in New Zealand's National League to being the division's outstanding left-back. Moment of the Season: Auckland FC 6-1 Wellington Phoenix So many to choose from but a humbling win over their new rivals was a flag in the sand moment. Auckland are here and they are here to stay. Overall grade: A A magnificent campaign which deserves immense accolades and superlatives. But falling just short of a Grand Final costs them top marks of an A+. Auckland FC Manager Steve Corica Photo: PHOTOSPORT Steve Corica's focus has already shifted to next season. Several departures are confirmed. Star loanee 'keeper Alex Paulsen returns to Bournemouth, with a mooted new temporary home at Scottish side Hibernian potentially in the works. Fellow loanee Max Mata is also set to leave. Neyder Moreno won't return, having confirmed he's not signing a new deal. RNZ understands Scott Galloway is also out; he hasn't featured since January and is likely heading to another A-League club. Luis Toomey, though off-contract, is expected to stay. Dan Hall and Louis Verstraete are both under contract but could easily attract overseas interest. This will be a concern, given their age and ambitions to eventually play at a higher level. Auckland will want to keep them but strong offers will be hard to turn down.. Moreno's exit frees up a visa spot, and while many Kiwi names will be linked, RNZ understands Kosta Barbarouses was never considered. Western Sydney is his apparent destination. Internally, the Black Knights are open to giving Michael Woud the chance to replace Paulsen, rather than signing a new first-choice keeper. Fans arrive before the A-League - Wellington Phoenix v Auckland FC at Sky Stadium, Wellington. Photo: Masanori Udagawa/Photosport A-League Men's final position: 11th (Premier's Plate winners) Player of the Season: Kosta Barbarouses Kosta Barbarouses of the Phoenix Photo: PHOTOSPORT Once again, it's probably the diminutive frontman who has stood head and shoulders above the rest. Which is why his decision to leave the club is potentially such a big blow. Ten goals in the league and a crucial Australia Cup play-off winner demonstrated his importance to the team. Young Player of the Season: Luke Brooke-Smith At just 16 years of age the teenage attacker has shown a level of performance often surpassing his more experienced teammate and becoming the club's youngest ever goal scorer in February. He's signed on until 2027, so hopefully there's plenty more to come. Signing of the Season: Corban Piper For all the new imports and the return of Marco Rojas, it was an under-the-radar recruit from Birkenhead United that has performed the best since a September arrival. A powerful and versatile option with a goal in him, the 22-year-old looks like the next Tim Payne in waiting. Revelation of the Season: Alby Kelly-Heald Goalkeeper Alby Kelly-Heald. Photo: AAP / The previous two entries aside, the young goalkeeper also looks like he has the attributes to one day be the club's number one. He's not the finished article but certainly a prospect worth keeping with once he's fully recovered from a shoulder injury which cut his season short in March. Moment of the Season: Kosta Barbarouses' halfway humdinger Not much to choose from here but Kosta's strike from inside the centre-circle against the Jets in December was a special moment from a special player who will be sorely missed next term. Overall grade: D The Phoenix were always going to struggle to match last season's campaign, especially when so many of their star players were picked off in a second off-season ransack in succession. Injury issues and unsuccessful recruitment did not help so this was always going to be a tough campaign. But they've blooded some youngsters and will have a clear indication of what they need to recover next season. Giancarlo Italiano. Photo: photosport Barbarouses is gone and Scott Wootton and Sam Sutton will join him - the defensive pair off to Perth Glory. Mid-season recruit Chico Geraldes' loan deal has expired and a knee injury appears to have dampened a desire to re-sign the mercurial Portuguese playmaker. Stefan Colakovski, also struck by injury, and third-choice goalkeeper Dublin Boon are also off contract. Unlike the past two seasons a mass raid on the team is unlikely, and that stability is something the Phoenix desperately need. They will have two visa slots available and question marks will rightly linger over whether goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi is the best use of another one. Getting that recruitment right is crucial if the 'Nix are to climb back up the table in 2025-26.
RNZ News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
A-League live updates: Auckland claim semi-final advantage with 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory
Auckland FC's Louis Verstraete and Melbourne Victory's Kasey Bos. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / After a stunning debut season, Auckland FC find themselves on the edge of a remarkable finals appearance. Tonight sees the first leg of the semi-finals, in a hostile AAMI Park in Melbourne. Kick-off is at 9.35pm NZT. Follow all the action with RNZ's live blog: Melbourne Victory: 1. Jack Duncan, 2. Jason Geria, 3. Adama Traoré, 5. Brendan Hamill, 6. Ryan Teague, 7. Daniel Arzani, 9. Nikos Vergos, 10. Bruno Fornaroli, 11. Clerismario Santos Rodrigues, 14. Jordi Valadon, 16. Joshua Inserra, 17. Nishan Velupillay, 18. Fabian Monge, 19. Jing Reec, 21. Roderick Miranda, 22. Joshua Rawlins, 25. Jack Duncan, 26. Luka Kolic, 27. Reno Piscopo, 28. Kasey Bos, 30. Daniel Graskoski. Auckland FC: 1. Michael Woud, 3. Scott Galloway, 4. Nando Pijnaker, 5. Tommy Smith, 6. Louis Verstraete, 8. Luis Toomey, 9. Max Mata, 10. Guillermo May, 12. Alex Paulsen, 14. Liam Gillion, 15. Francis de Vries, 17. Callan Elliot, 18. Finn McKenlay, 21. Jesse Randall, 22. Jake Brimmer, 25. Neyder Moreno, 27. Logan Rogerson, 28. Luis Felipe Gallegos, 31. Jonty Bidois
RNZ News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
A-League live updates: Rogerson heads Auckland FC into the lead
Auckland FC's Louis Verstraete and Melbourne Victory's Kasey Bos. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / After a stunning debut season, Auckland FC find themselves on the edge of a remarkable finals appearance. Tonight sees the first leg of the semi-finals, in a hostile AAMI Park in Melbourne. Kick-off is at 9.35pm NZT. Follow all the action with RNZ's live blog: Melbourne Victory: 1. Jack Duncan, 2. Jason Geria, 3. Adama Traoré, 5. Brendan Hamill, 6. Ryan Teague, 7. Daniel Arzani, 9. Nikos Vergos, 10. Bruno Fornaroli, 11. Clerismario Santos Rodrigues, 14. Jordi Valadon, 16. Joshua Inserra, 17. Nishan Velupillay, 18. Fabian Monge, 19. Jing Reec, 21. Roderick Miranda, 22. Joshua Rawlins, 25. Jack Duncan, 26. Luka Kolic, 27. Reno Piscopo, 28. Kasey Bos, 30. Daniel Graskoski. Auckland FC: 1. Michael Woud, 3. Scott Galloway, 4. Nando Pijnaker, 5. Tommy Smith, 6. Louis Verstraete, 8. Luis Toomey, 9. Max Mata, 10. Guillermo May, 12. Alex Paulsen, 14. Liam Gillion, 15. Francis de Vries, 17. Callan Elliot, 18. Finn McKenlay, 21. Jesse Randall, 22. Jake Brimmer, 25. Neyder Moreno, 27. Logan Rogerson, 28. Luis Felipe Gallegos, 31. Jonty Bidois
RNZ News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
A-League live updates: Melbourne Victory v Auckland goalless after frantic first-half
Auckland FC's Louis Verstraete and Melbourne Victory's Kasey Bos. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / After a stunning debut season, Auckland FC find themselves on the edge of a remarkable finals appearance. Tonight sees the first leg of the semi-finals, in a hostile AAMI Park in Melbourne. Kick-off is at 9.35pm NZT. Follow all the action with RNZ's live blog: Melbourne Victory: 1. Jack Duncan, 2. Jason Geria, 3. Adama Traoré, 5. Brendan Hamill, 6. Ryan Teague, 7. Daniel Arzani, 9. Nikos Vergos, 10. Bruno Fornaroli, 11. Clerismario Santos Rodrigues, 14. Jordi Valadon, 16. Joshua Inserra, 17. Nishan Velupillay, 18. Fabian Monge, 19. Jing Reec, 21. Roderick Miranda, 22. Joshua Rawlins, 25. Jack Duncan, 26. Luka Kolic, 27. Reno Piscopo, 28. Kasey Bos, 30. Daniel Graskoski. Auckland FC: 1. Michael Woud, 3. Scott Galloway, 4. Nando Pijnaker, 5. Tommy Smith, 6. Louis Verstraete, 8. Luis Toomey, 9. Max Mata, 10. Guillermo May, 12. Alex Paulsen, 14. Liam Gillion, 15. Francis de Vries, 17. Callan Elliot, 18. Finn McKenlay, 21. Jesse Randall, 22. Jake Brimmer, 25. Neyder Moreno, 27. Logan Rogerson, 28. Luis Felipe Gallegos, 31. Jonty Bidois
NZ Herald
17-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Auckland FC v Melbourne Victory: Live updates from leg one of the A-League semifinal
Follow the action from the first leg of the A-League semifinal between Auckland FC and Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park in Melbourne. Ask Auckland FC about their approach to the first leg of their A-League semifinal against Melbourne Victory and the answer will be a simple one. They are going there to win. There are always extra permutations, complications and intrigue around a home and away series, which becomes a 180-minute contest. It's a tricky balance. Do you pick or stick? And how aggressive should you be? Football soothsayers will emphasise caution, pointing to the adage that you can't win such a tie after 90 minutes – but you can lose it. The Black Knights are emphasising a positive strategy, determined to control their destiny before the return to Auckland next week and take the game to their opponents rather than focus on avoiding defeat. 'We want to win – it's a big difference,' said midfielder Louis Verstraete. 'It's a totally different mindset to if you go somewhere and you don't want to win, then you are a little bit scared and you just defend. We want to play our normal football, be aggressive in the pressing, we want to go forwards, that is the plan.' Coach Steve Corica, a veteran of numerous finals matches as a player and coach, concurred. Having a second leg does change the equation – but not by much. 'I don't like going in just for a draw, for instance, that's not my mindset,' said Corica. '[And] if you give them [the squad] a negative mindset, that is not good for us. My mindset is to win every game. We want to get ourselves in a good position to take home to Go Media stadium.' However, it's likely to be a cagey affair. Melbourne Victory are the masters of playoff football, with so much experience down the years, while Auckland's startling success this season has been built on a strong defensive template. That will continue, especially against a Melbourne team with several attacking threats. 'They have a few players on an individual level who can decide the game,' said Verstraete. Corica feels his team are in a good place. He isn't concerned about any lingering effects of the 4-2 defeat to Western United in their last competitive match, pointing out that a dip was to be expected with the hangover from the Premiers Plate party. They have benefited from the week off – with a chance to refocus – and are starting with a clean slate.
