Auckland FC will be without key duo Louis Verstraete and Nando Pijnaker for their match against Central Coast Mariners after Football Australia’s independent Match Review Panel (MRP) announced its suspensions.
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The Belgian midfielder received his marching orders with 15 minutes of regulation time remaining at McDonald Jones Stadium, where he caught Newcastle’s Charles M’Mombwa high on the leg with his studs in a clash in midfield.
After convening to review the weekend’s action, the MRP deemed Verstraete committed the offence of “Serious Foul play (e.g. When challenging for the ball)”, with the minimum sanction for the offence a one-match ban.
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As a result, the 25-year-old will miss league-leading Auckland’s matchup against reigning champions Central Coast on Sunday. He will be available for selection against Brisbane Roar on March 30.
Steve Corica’s high-flying Auckland will also be without Pijnaker after the defender accumulated his fifth yellow card of the season.
Like Verstraete, Pijanker will be free to face Brisbane after serving a one-game ban.
