Match Week 20 of the ISPS Handa Premiership takes place this weekend, check out what’s in store with the official preview. There are only two weeks remaining in the regular season and one of the main talking points is who will host the second semi-final.  

Southern United vs Hawke’s Bay United
Sunnyvale Park, Dunedin
Sunday 10 March, 11am
#ISPSHandaPrem #SUvHB

Referee: A Wilson
Assistant Referees: A Verolino, J Henderson
Fourth Official: L Robinson

Squads

Southern United: 16. Liam LITTLE GK, 2. Conor O’KEEFFE (c), 4. Stephen LASTIRL, 5. Erik PANZER, 6. Daniel LEDWITH, 8. Anthony WHITEHEAD, 9. Garbhan COUGHLAN, 10. Abdulla AL-KALISY, 11. Ben DEELEY, 13. Azariah SOROMON, 18. Markus FJØRTOFT, 1. Stewart CATTO (GK), 3. Adam HEWSON, 7. Samuel PICKERING, 14. Alexander COX, 15. Rory FINDLAY
Coach: Paul O’Reilly

Hawke’s Bay United: 1. Mackenzie WAITE GK, 4. Cameron LINDSAY, 8. Paul IFILL, 10. Sho GOTOJPN, 11. Maxime OLIVERI, 14. Birhanu TAYE (c), 16. Gavin HOYCAN, 19. Luis TOOMEY, 20. Josh MURPHY, 22. Karan MANDAIR, 23. Jorge AKERS, 26. Alexander BRITTON GK, 5. Kaeden ATKINS, 18. Tai BARHAM, 21. Harry MASON
Coach: Brett Angell
 

Lowdown

Southern United are on the brink of firmly establishing themselves as the best side outside of the top four as they look likely to finish fifth for the second consecutive season. Missing out on the play-offs for two years running may not be considered success by some but, given Southern’s history as one of the whipping boys of the league, it signals significant progress. They have already equalled last season’s win tally of six and will see this as a good opportunity to edge past that mark. The only real positive for Hawke’s Bay this season has been the form of golden boot leader Sam Mason-Smith but he has now departed for Australia so, given the leaky nature of the visitors’ defence, it may prove tricky for them to get anything out of this game.

Wellington Phoenix Reserves vs Hamilton Wanderers
Porirua Park, Wellington
Sunday 10 March, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #WPvHW

Referee: N Waldron
Assistant Referees: M Whitehead, A Davenport
Fourth Official: C Bennett

Squads

Wellington Phoenix Reserves:  1. Zac JONES (GK), 3. Kurtis MOGG, 5. Ronan WYNNE, 6. Gianni STENSNESS, 7. Benjamin WAINE, 8. Tacettin KUMSUZ, 9. Maximilian BATCHELOR, 10. Willem EBBINGE, 11. Sam SUTTON (c), 13. Noah TIPENE-CLEGG, 16. Kieran RICHARDS, 30. Zachary DEAN (GK), 14. Oskar VAN HATTUM, 15. Stephen SPROWSON, 18. Henry HAMILTON, 25. Boyd CURRY
Coach: Paul Temple

Hamilton Wanderers: 1. Matthew OLIVER GK (c) 3. Joseph NOTTAGE, 5. Stafford DOWLING, 6. Agustin CONTRATTI, 8. Brad WHITWORTH, 9. Martin BUENO, 10. Martin MAYBIN, 13. Tommy SEMMY, 16. John CLOUT, 17. Xavier PRATT, 20. Derek TIEKU, 11. Jordan SHAW, 12. William STEPHEN, 15. Joseph TERRY, 19. Bayley FOSTER
Coach: Ricki Herbert

Lowdown

The Hamilton Wanderers players will be kicking themselves after getting into a commanding position before Christmas but then blowing it with a shocking run of form since the turn of the year. They have still picked up only one point in 2019 and kissed goodbye to their title hopes weeks ago but will be keen to salvage something from a season that once promised so much. They have two games remaining to do that and this weekend appears to offer their best opportunity of finally securing three points again as their final fixture is against title-chasing Team Wellington. The focus for the young ‘WeeNix’ is on player development but they have still managed to pick up a few points and will take confidence from holding in-form Southern United to a 2-all draw last time out.

Quotes:
Paul Temple (Wellington Phoenix Reserves Coach): “Playing home always gives you an advantage in the sense that everyone’s routines are more relaxed, there isn’t a travel component and you are familiar with your surroundings.  We have targeted these two final home games as ones we can get some more points on the board. We expect Wanderers to be unpredictable.  They have played a few different systems this year so without a constant pattern preparing to face them means you have to have a few different options when it comes to your own strategies. They also have some very good players who are constant threats so we need to manage and be able to nullify them but the focus is mainly on us, these boys have been playing well lately and we’ve got a plan to take the game to Hamilton.”

Tasman United vs Eastern Suburbs
Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Sunday 10 March, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #TUvES

Referee: C Berg
Assistant Referees: M Love, R Preston
Fourth Official: R Malcolm 

Squads

Tasman United:  20. Nick STANTON (GK), 2. Sam AYERS, 5. Fox SLOTEMAKER, 7. Corey LARSEN, 11. Alex RIDSDALE, 12. Ahmed OTHMAN, 13. Daniel MCCLAY, 14. Ryan WORRALL, 21. Jordan YONG, 24. Liam MACDEVITT, 25. Jake WILLIAMS, 3. Edward SILLARS, 8. Matthew TOD-SMITH, 15. Max WINTERTON, 17. Cristian BENITEZ CUERO, 23. Keegan SMITH
Coach: Andy Hedge

Eastern Suburbs: 1. Andrew WITHERS (GK), 3. Kelvin KALUA, 4. Nando PIJNAKER, 6. Harry MOSS-EDGE, 7. Tim PAYNE (c), 9. Callum MCCOWAT, 10. Andre DE JONG, 11. Mohamed AWAD, 14. Elijah JUST, 15. Dalton WILKINS, 16. Dominic WOOLDRIDGE, 21. Justin BIEGA (GK), 2. Alexander CLAYTON, 18. Kingsley SINCLAIR, 22. Hayden JOHNS, 23. Campbell STRONG
Coach: Danny Hay

Lowdown

This is a potential banana skin for Eastern Suburbs as they will be heavily favoured to defeat a Tasman side with only three wins to its name but a trip to Nelson is never easy. Suburbs are in the best position to claim the highly sought after second home semi-final but can’t afford to slip up this weekend as Team Wellington and Canterbury are just three and four points behind respectively. Tasman’s season has never really threatened to get off the ground and it doesn’t look like ending on a high as this visit by Suburbs is swiftly followed by another top-four side in Canterbury. Recent signing Liam MacDevitt was a real danger with his lightning pace in last week’s draw at Hawke’s Bay and Tasman will turn to him to unlock the joint-best defence in the league.

Team Wellington vs Auckland City
David Farrington Park, Wellington
Sunday 10 March, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #TWvAC

Referee: A Riley
Assistant Referees: G Sheehan, E Cook
Fourth Official: P Linney

Squads

Team Wellington:  1. Scott BASALAJ (GK), 3. Adam MITCHELL, 4. Mario ILICH, 6. Taylor SCHRIJVERS, 7. Eric MOLLOY, 12. Andy BEVIN (c), 14. Jack-Henry SINCLAIR, 16. Angus KILKOLLY, 17. Alexander PALEZEVIC, 18. Aaron CLAPHAM, 19. Ross ALLEN, 22. Marcel KAMPMAN (GK), 10. Nathanael HAILEMARIAM, 11. Bill ROBERTSON, 13. Daniel MULHOLLAND, 15. Joel STEVENS
Coach: Jose Figueira

Auckland City (from): 1. Enaut ZUBIKARAI (GK), 2. Jackson WOODS, 3. Thomas DRILLIEN, 4. Mario BILEN, 5. Angel BERLANGA (c), 6. Brian KALTAK, 7. Cam HOWIESON, 8. Albert RIERA, 9. Javier LOPEZ, 10. Micah LEA’ALAFA, 11. Fabrizio TAVANO, 12. Dylan MANICKUM, 13. Patrick LUNDEMO, 14. Jordan VALE, 15. Dan MORGAN, 16. Yousif ALI, 17. Reid DRAKE, 18. Ruben PARKER (GK), 19. David BROWNE, 20. Te Atawhai HUDSON-WIHONGI, 21. Maro BONSU-MARO, 22. Omar GUARDIOLA, 23. Alfie ROGERS, 24. Josh JONES, 25. Darren WHITE, 26. Cameron BROWN (GK), 27. Takuya IWATA
Coach: Ramon Tribulietx

Lowdown

A repeat of the last three finals, this is undoubtedly the match of the round, although Team Wellington have more riding on the outcome than their visitors. Minor premiers Auckland City have already secured a home semi-final but Wellington are still fighting it out to do likewise so are in need of all three points here. City do have reason to avoid defeat themselves though as they are on the verge of going through the regular season undefeated, which would be a remarkable achievement given the strength of both their three title rivals and others. Both teams will be full of confidence after making outstanding starts to their respective OFC Champions League campaigns, Wellington scoring 18 goals and conceding none across their three wins while Auckland found the net 23 times and conceded just once.

Quotes:
Jose Figueira (Team Wellington coach): “The boys have trained really well this week and are full of confidence. With three really good wins and clean sheets over there, we have some really good momentum which we’re looking to take into the game on Sunday. We played Auckland in the first game of the season so it’s certainly been a long time and there’s been a few changes for both teams. They’re having an incredible run but our new players have really embedded themselves into the team fantastically and there’s been a real buzz about the place this week. There’s no extra motivation needed for games against Auckland and they’re always high intensity so we’re looking forward to another one.”

Ramon Tribulietx (Auckland City coach): "Team Wellington have changed quite a few players but they’ve replaced the ones they’ve lost with players of similar capability. From what I’ve seen they’ve still got power and ability in Aaron Clapham, Ross Allen and Joel Stevens. They remain a strong opponent and we have to understand that the changes mean they will be a tough prospect.”

Waitakere United vs Canterbury United
Trusts Arena, Auckland
Sunday 10 March, 4.35pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #WUvCU
Live on SKY Sport

Referee: CK Kawana-Waugh
Assistant Referees: I Trevis, R Al Rabea
Fourth Official: C Trent

Squads
Waitakere United: 28. Nick DRAPER (GK) 2. Luke JORGENSEN, 3. Niko STEINMETZ, 4. Matthew WOOD, 5. Kris CARPENTER, 6. Hayden AISH, 7. Oscar BROWNE, 8. Samuel BURFOOT, 9. Alex CONNOR-MCCLEAN, 13. Dane SCHNELL, 21. Andrew ABBA, 1. Silvio RODICCRO (GK), 12. Matthew CONROY, 15. Ignacio MACHUCA MATURENACHI, 19. Ryan VERNEY, 20. Oliver BASSETT
Coach: Chris Milicich

Canterbury United Dragons: 22. Conor TRACEY GK, 3. Aaron SPAIN, 5. Tom SCHWARZ, 6. Gary OGILVIE (c), 8. Luke TONGUE, 9. Maksym KOWAL, 10. Adam THURSTON, 12. Daniel MCHENERY, 14. Sean LIDDICOAT, 17. Stephen HOYLE, 21. Seth CLARK, 1. Edward ASHTON (GK), 2. Dan TERRIS, 11. James PENDRIGH, 15. Andreas WILSON, 19. Harris ZEB
Coach: Willy Gerdsen

Lowdown

Currently four points off second-placed Eastern Suburbs, Canterbury are certainly the dark horses to claim a home semi-final but do have a chance if they can take maximum reward from both of their remaining fixtures. Fortunately for the Dragons, each of those encounters are against teams they would expect to beat anyway, although they will have to do so as the away team on both occasions. On paper, Canterbury should have too much quality for Waitakere but it’s difficult to know which version of the west Aucklanders will turn up. They are capable of hitting the heights – as shown by an earlier win over Team Wellington and a recent 7-2 thumping of Hawke’s Bay – but have also had no shortage of low moments, not least of which was becoming the first team to lose to the Wellington Phoenix Reserves.


Article added: Friday 08 March 2019