Auckland FC tick off major milestone with historic first game

History was made on New Zealand’s north island as incoming Isuzu UTE A-League side Auckland FC played their first ever match.

It was a landmark night for Auckland FC ahead of their 2024-25 debut – Steve Corica’s newly-built team drawing 2-2 against Northern League outfit Auckland United on Wednesday.

Auckland FC are owned by American billionaire Bill Foley. He is also the general partner of the global multi-club football operator Black Knight Football Club – the group of investors who own Premier League side AFC Bournemouth while they also have a stake in French club FC Lorient and Scotland’s Hibernian.

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Midweek, the Auckland-based side ticked off a major milestone as Max Mata scored the club’s first ever goal before Luis Toomey equalised in the second half.

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Micheal Woud (GK), Tommy Smith (C), Cam Howieson, Toomey, Mata, Joey Champness, Francis De Vries, Callan Elliot, Finn McKenlay, Dan Hall and Logan Rogerson were in the starting XI, while Joe Knowles (GK), Jonty Bidois, Adama Coulibaly, Nikko Boxall, James Bulkeley, Dejaun Naidoo and Ralph Rutherford were among the substitutes.

Six-time New Zealand international Boxall (32), who previously played for Wellington Phoenix, Bulkeley (19 – Fleetwood United, UAE), Naidoo (17 – Eastern Suburbs) and Rutherford (19 – Eastern Suburbs) were four triallists on display for Auckland FC.

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“It’s obviously exciting to play our first 90 minutes,” head coach Corica told Auckland FC’s media, with 20 players currently contracted for the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season.

“We played a really good team. They played really well tonight in Auckland United. They put on a good show in tough conditions.

“With our boys, there’s obviously those fitness levels we need to improve on.

“There’s a lot to take out of that game. We created a good amount of chances and probably should’ve scored more goals but it showed great character too.

“We were behind, come back and then the second goal too. And came back from behind again. Never give in and never give up.

“For the first hit out, it’s what to be expected at the moment.”

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