The Grand Finals for New Zealand’s top domestic football competitions will be held at Go Media Mt Smart Stadium on Sunday 26 November 2023. The Men’s final will kick off at 1 pm followed by the Women’s final at 4 pm.

The Men's grand final is set, as Auckland City and Wellington Olympic have gone clear at the top of the Men's National League table. 

Both teams faced each other recently in round 8 of the National League Championship, with Wellington Olympic coming out on top 3-1 and breaking a long-running Auckland City Home streak. Auckland will be looking for revenge when both teams head to Go Media Mt Smart Stadium on Sunday the 26th of November 2023.

Auckland City vs Wellington Olympic
Sunday 26 November 2023 (1pm)
Go Media Mt Smart Stadium

Tickets
https://tinyurl.com/3s8ryhxr

The battle in 2022

Auckland City FC took out the New Zealand Football’s Men’s National League Championship Grand Final last year. Defeating Wellington Olympic 3 – 2 in a tightly contested game at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart. The victory saw the Navy Blues claim their fourth title of 2022, adding the National League Championship to their Northern League, OFC Champions League and Chatham Cup triumphs.

Auckland City players celebrate winning the final in 2022. Auckland City FC vs Wellington Olympic. Men’s National League Championship Grand Final at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand. Sunday 4 December 2002. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.phototek.nz

Wellington Olympic started brightly by hitting the right post in the 15th minute after a handy one-two which saw the ball fly across an open net. 

Auckland City FC made Wellington Olympic pay for not taking their chances, breaking the deadlock in the 33rd minute after a goalmouth scramble saw Liam Gillion bundle the ball over the line.  Just seven minutes later, Auckland doubled their lead through a neat passing move and found Gerard Garriga 1-on-1 with the Wellington GK. This was after Liam Gillion courageously won the ball in Wellingtons' defensive third. 

Auckland City FC's good fortunes changed in first-half injury time as midfielder Reid Drake was sent off for a late sliding tackle. The Navy Blues would have to play the full second 45 with 10 men. 

Olympic went on to take advantage of their extra man. In the 63rd minute, they thought they had made the breakthrough, but the goal was ruled offside. 

The 77th minute saw Wellington Olympic finally make it count through a brilliant long-range shot from Tor Davenport-Petersen into the top left corner of the net. 

It was soon followed by another cracking effort from substitute Connor Gaul but that was stopped by the crossbar. 

With 88 minutes on the clock, Auckland City FC regained their two-goal advantage with substitute Angus Kilkolly finishing neatly from the edge of the box after a sustained period of Wellington Olympic pressure. 

Wellington Olympic pushed hard to find two goals, which nearly came to fruition after Olympics won a penalty which Captain Ben Mata stepped up and slotted away. 

Auckland City FC would hold on and claim the National League Championship title.

The Steve Sumner Trophy, given to the player of the match in the Grand Final, was awarded to Auckland City FC’s Gerard Garriga. 

Auckland City FC - 3 (33’ Gillion, 40’ Garriga, 88’ Kilkolly)

Wellington Olympic - 2 (77’ Davenport-Petersen, 90+1’ Mata)
 

Watch the 2022 Men's National League Championship Final Highlights // Auckland City v Wellington Olympic 

Click to get tickets to the National Leauge Championship Grand Finals

Article added: Wednesday 15 November 2023

Photos  /  www.phototek.nz