You couldn’t have scripted it any better! A top-of-the-table clash, first vs second, a battle for the north island of New Zealand, a battle to determine what colour New Zealand would be.
Will New Zealand be black and blue or black and yellow?
Who will be heard the loudest, ‘The Port’ or ‘The Yellow Fever’?
A battle between the newcomers – the Black Knights – vs the mainstays – the Nix. It’s Auckland FC vs Wellington Phoenix.
The A-Leagues’ 20th season is on now! Be part of the action in stadium or watch it live.
Round 3 of the 20th A-League season is here and we will see the first ever Kiwi Clasico and it is shaping up to be must watch.
With both teams undefeated and bragging rights up for grabs, an opportunity presents itself for two teams situated in the north island of New Zealand to stamp their authority on the round game in New Zealand and better yet, sit atop of the A-League competition.
Auckland FC players celebrate their win over Sydney. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
After Wellington Phoenix looked the goods Saturday in their Round 2 clash against Perth Glory, cruising to a 2-0 away win in the ‘Distance derby’, it was over to Auckland FC to respond and didn’t they ever.
What a game. Auckland FC vs Sydney FC on a fine Sunday afternoon and a last minute, stoppage time winner to boot. Could the story get any better?
Last week, I wrote that Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix have my attention. Well, this week, they have the attention of the whole competition.
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Auckland FC were 1-0 victors over the Sky Blues, and a statement was made to the competition that they are no one-trick pony. Auckland have put the A-League on notice that they mean business.
Following Auckland’s Round 1 sell-out against Brisbane Roar, A-League pundits and critics were curious to see the sort of support they would attract in their second fixture.
The Auckland fans didn’t disappoint, as 14,253 turned out in what was the second largest attendance for the round and fourth highest attendance of the season. This was all despite the fact Sydney FC were without marquee man, Douglas Costa.
Douglas Costa. (Photo by Steve Christo – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
If the fans turned out in number to see Douglas Costa, they would have been disappointed. But the contest was far from disappointing, even in a low-scoring affair.
The A-League newcomers would knock off Sydney in the final minute of extra time and send their fans into raptures, showing those in Auckland just how crazy football can be.
In the process of Auckland defeating Sydney FC, they became just the second A-League club in history to win its first two games. The only other club to achieve this similar feat was the now former A-League club, Gold Coast United.
However, unlike, Gold Coast United, that’s where the similarities end. The Gold Coast United fanfare was never there and Auckland FC are already kicking more goals than those just in the game.
With attendances of 24,492 and 14,253 in two rounds of football, Auckland are showcasing potential in an inaugural season, not seen since Sydney FC, and one which could, if success were the determinant factor, result in unprecedented attendances for a first season.
Auckland FC can already lay claim to the second largest debut home crowd, pipped only just by Sydney FC, with the record of 25,208.
To further highlight Auckland’s early success, not even the original New Zealand Knights – who played in the 2005/06 and 2006/07 seasons – could muster such fanfare.
In the 2005/06 inaugural season, New Zealand Knights had 39,086 fans in total for the full season. Auckland FC are already at 38,745!
Now, it’ll take some beating, but Sydney FC had 255,421 turn up in their inaugural season at an average of 19,648.
To Auckland FC’s benefit, Sydney also had marquee man, Dwight Yorke and it was the start of ‘New Football’.
To pip these numbers would be nothing short of remarkable.
However, I digress, back to the football, and with much of the talk surrounding Auckland FC, Wellington Phoenix didn’t want New Zealand to forget who they were.
DON'T MISS HISTORY
— Wellington Phoenix ???? (@WgtnPhoenixFC) October 27, 2024
NZ'S FIRST PRO FOOTBALL DERBY
SKY STADIUM | 5PM SATURDAY | NOV 2ND
????️ – https://t.co/hULyJKnGfs pic.twitter.com/jjuIzKbdXY
During Auckland’s clash with Sydney FC, they would send a cheeky reminder overhead that “NZ is Yellow – See you next week!”. For a long time, New Zealand has been yellow, but now they have a choice.
Yellow, or black and blue?
Time will tell and at the very least, will surely help shape a new and captivating rivalry: the Kiwi Clasico.
Whilst the hype of an inaugural Kiwi Clasico is sure to sell out, a major point of contention moving forward will be the distance. I’m not sure there would be to many derbies that require an eight-hour car ride. Despite the distance, there are still only two teams to pick from. So New Zealand, it’s you’re time to pick!
The stage is set, the first ever Kiwi Clasico fast approaches. Who will the winner be or is there more to this story? Will we see a draw and have to wait until December 7 to split them when they meet again?
Only time will tell what is over the horizon for this new rivalry, but it’s already shaping up as a must watch. May the strong start to the 20th season continue!
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