It’s a sell-out in Auckland!
Isuzu UTE A-League newcomers Auckland FC are set to play in front of a sold-out Go Media Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the club’s first-ever competitive fixture against Brisbane Roar in Round 1 of the 2024-25 season.
October 19 will go down as a special date in the history of New Zealand sport as Auckland becomes the Isuzu UTE A-League’s 13th side; owned by American billionaire Bill Foley and coached by Championship winner Steve Corica, the Black Knights have been on an extensive recruitment spree over the last nine months to get themselves ready for season 2024-25, which kicks off against Brisbane Roar.
For the first time, the league has two New Zealand clubs competing in the same season and, as Auckland FC foray into competitive action in Round 1 of the 2024-25 season, they will do so in front of a bumper crowd at Go Media Stadium, with club reporting an opening day sell-out.
How to watch?
Australian viewers, you can catch all of the action from Auckland’s first Isuzu UTE A-League game LIVE on Paramount+ from 2pm AEST.
New Zealand viewers can watch via Sky Sport Now or Sky Sport NZ Channel 3 from 5pm NZT.
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Japanese icon Hiroki Sakai is the club’s new captain, former Wellington Phoenix keeper Alex Paulsen has joined on a season-long loan from Premier League side AFC Bournemouth, defender Tommy Smith is one of a number of All Whites in the squad while Isuzu UTE A-League winners Scott Galloway and Dan Hall have also joined, as has former Johnny Warren Medallist Jake Brimmer.
Add to that some South American flair in the form of Uruguayan striker Guillermo May, Chilean midfielder Luis Felipe Gallegos and Colombian winger Neyder Moreno, Auckland FC are going to be a fascinating blend of household Kiwi names and overseas talent.
Taking on the league’s new boys at Go Media Stadium are Brisbane Roar; a side that has undergone major surgery in the off-season.
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Brisbane have waved goodbye to 13 players including captain Tom Aldred and defender Kai Trewin, while they’ve brought in 11 new faces to suit the needs of their head coach Ruben Zadkovich.
Among those to have joined the Queenslanders are Lebanese international midfielder Walid Shour and former Adelaide United trio Ben Warland, Ben Halloran and Harry Van Der Saag, while the capture of Indonesian winger Rafael Struick from Dutch side ADO Den Haag ensures the Roar will have a new army of Indonesian supporters this year.
The Roar flirted with playing finals football last season but ultimately fell away towards the end of the campaign, however their pre-season results have been encouraging and Zadkovich will surely benefit from having a full off-season in charge of the team.
Team news
Auckland FC’s first-ever Isuzu UTE A-League starting XI features just four players with prior experience in the league: Dan Hall, Jake Brimmer, Logan Rogerson and Alex Paulsen. The remaining seven players in head coach Steve Corica’s starting lineup are set for Isuzu UTE A-League debuts in Auckland on Saturday afternoon.
Brisbane, meanwhile will be without French star Florin Berenguer in Round 1 due to a knock. Harry Van der Saag, Walid Shour and Neicer Acosta are all set to make their first Isuzu UTE A-League appearance for the club while star recruit and Indonesian international Rafael Struick looms on the bench.
Gun teenage striker Thomas Waddingham will lead the line for head coach Ruben Zadkovich and will look to build on his impressive debut season in the Isuzu UTE A-League, where he scored seven goals in 23 games.
Did you miss the Isuzu UTE A-League season opener on Friday night? Re-live all the action from Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Victory below!
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