Soccer: Auckland City to receive sternest test

Auckland City FC training at Kiwitea Street. Photograph by Natalie Slade

Auckland City FC's Oceania title hopes will receive its sternest examination yet when Vanuatu champions Amicale visit Kiwitea Street desperate for a first ever regional title of its own on Sunday.

Auckland coach Ramon Tribulietx has his eyes fixed on completing a mission that began nearly eight months ago: win the OFC Champions League and qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup.

But standing between Auckland City FC and their objective is an Amicale side widely regarded as one of the most potent assembled by a Pacific islands club in the 15 year history of the competition.

"Amicale have a good combination of local talent and European club experience and its really difficult to say which of their individuals will be the most dangerous to us," Tribulietx said.

"But when you look at Jack Wetney, Dominique Fred and Kensi Tangis, they can all create and score goals from nothing and we have to be at our best."

While a fourth consecutive title is up for grabs for Tribulietx and Auckland, at the back of New Zealand football fans' minds will be the valuable prize money that accompanies victory.

The total cash windfall for finishing seventh at the FIFA Club World Cup for the Oceania qualifiers is a minimum of $500,000.00 USD.

From that amount a section is divided up between the participating club and if that's Auckland, New Zealand Football and the seven other ASB Premiership clubs all stand to benefit.

The last time New Zealand failed to win the OFC Champions League in 2010, every ASB Premiership club as well as the governing body New Zealand Football felt a keen financial pinch.

Making matters more intriguing is the fact Amicale are now three matches unbeaten in clashes with Auckland City FC after winning 1-0 twice and snatching a 1-1 draw in Port Vila on Saturday in front of 10,000 fans.

Amicale, owned by Vanuatu businessman Andrew Leong, have assembled a formidable squad of ex-professionals and professionals that includes two Fijians, three Serbians and a former Aston Villa player, Colin Marshall.

They are also managed by Australian coach with professional experience in Nathan Hall.

But such is Tribulietx's determination to remain focused on the task at hand, he downplays the crucial away goal scored by Emiliano Tade in the first leg.

"There is a small advantage there for us, but it is too small for us to try and play around with that. We need to make sure we have a bit more of the ball than in the second half in Vanuatu.

"We need to be very detailed in our defending and try to look at this game as a one-off match," he said.

In team news, veteran defender and former All White, James Pritchett looks likely to overcome injury and make himself available for selection on Sunday.

Pritchett, who passed the 200 game mark for the Navy Blues in the semi-final win over AS Pirae, gives Tribulietx extra options at right back.

The match will be streamed live at the official OFC YouTube channel in both English and Bislama, the local language in Vanuatu.