FMG Stadium Waikato Hamilton’s premier sports ground will be our home for the next four ASB Premiership home games. FMG Stadium Waikato hosted 8 games during the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup, including the epic round of 16 match between New Zealand and Portugal, which was won 2-1 by the Europeans. The stadium was home to WaiBOP United’s predecessor, Waikato FC, for its first four seasons, so today’s match is something of an overdue homecoming. The stadium has also hosted games involving the Football Kingz and Wellington Phoenix. In 2002 then Scottish Premier League side Dunfirmline Athletic played the Red Badge All Stars here.
Loaded WaiBOP United against Auckland City: P: 4, W: 0, D: 0, L: 4, GF: 3, GA: 10.
Auckland City travel with two former WaiBOP United players, Danyon Drake and Alfie Rogers, in their squad. We have several players, including both goal keepers Zac Speedy and Louie Caunter, who have spent time with Auckland City. The record between the two sides would suggest Auckland City only need to turn up to get the points. They’ve won all four matches, with our two previous home games, both at John Kerkhof Park in Cambridge, seeing the visitors victorious by the same margin – 2-0. Clearly, this is one record we’d like to improve on before we hand our ASB Premiership license on. This is our sixth consecutive match to be played in front of the Sky Sport cameras this season, so if you can’t make it to FMG Stadium Waikato then you can tune in at 4.35pm on Sunday afternoon to watch the game on TV.
Line-ups
Loaded WaiBOP United: Zac Speedy; Scott Hilliar, Adam Mitchell, Tom Provert, Finn Cochran; Alexis Varela (Xavier Pratt 68’), Ryan Tinsley; Wade Molony, Federico Marquez (Mario Ilich 73’), Mark Jones; Stephen Hoyle (Dylan Stansfield 83’). Subs: Louie Caunter, James Hoyle.
Auckland City: Danyon Drake, Mario Bilen (Clayton Lewis 69’), Angel Berlanga (Michael Den Heijer 83’), Jesse Edge, Mikel Alvaro, Ryan De Vries, Te Atawhai Hudson Wihongi, Alfie Rogers (Darren White 79’), Daewook Kim, Micah Lea’Alafa, Emiliano Tade. Subs: Liam Anderson, Nathanael Hailemariam.
Loaded WaiBOP United 0-2 Auckland City
WB: none.
AC: Daewook Kim 18′, Emiliano Tade 50′.
