O-LEAGUE PREVIEW: AUCKLAND CITY v WAITAKERE UNITED

With only two games remaining in the group stages of Waitakere United’s 2008 O-League campaign, coach Chris Milicich see’s Wednesday nights clash with Perennial rivals Auckland
City as “Do or die”.

A loss for Waitakere could effectively end the current champion’s campaign, if combined with an expected Auckland City triumph over AS Manu Ura in the group’s penultimate match
on March.29th.

A win or a draw will bring to life the clash between the two Auckland sides in the final match of the group at Fred Taylor Park on April 2nd.

Milicich was disappointed with his sides 1-1 draw with AS Manu Ura in Tahiti on Saturday night but noted that the games against Auckland were always going to be the ones that
mattered.

“It doesn’t matter what we did in Tahiti, it doesn’t matter what Auckland do in Tahiti, it all comes down to these two games against Auckland.”

Milicich said his team will take confidence from their 2-0 win over Auckland in the NZFC though noted that it will count for little in Wednesday’s match.

“Any sort of monkey the team had on its back is definitely gone now but we know that Wednesdays match is do or die. The reality is that whichever team loses is probably not going
to go through. A draw and we do it all again.”

City coach Colin Tuaa said that his side will be different to the one that lost to Waitakere earlier in the season though consistent with what has been used over the last couple
of games.

“We need to start well,” said Tuaa. “When we lost to Waitakere earlier in the season we conceded a goal in the eighth minute from an error then another shortly after. You can’t
afford to make those mistakes in big games.”

“This match is huge. We’re doing really well in the league now (NZFC) and if we can win on Wednesday we’ll have one foot in the door to making the finals of the O-League.

“I think a win will just give us that extra confidence to kick on in both competitions.”

Ross Nicholson will be a doubtful starter for Auckland after limping off in his sides 4-1 win over Manawatu on the weekend, while Jason Rowley will be missing for Waitakere after
sustaining an ankle injury in Tahiti.

Auckland City vs. Waitakere United

Kick Off: 1800 hrs.