Central United Football Club

TEAM LISTS | Central United FC vs Northland FC 📋

The line-ups are locked in for this afternoon’s LOTTO NRFL Northern Conference clash at Kiwitea Street.

🕒 3:00pm Kick Off

💛💙

Central Set to Host Northland This Saturday!

Kiwitea Street is the place to be this Saturday afternoon as Central United welcome Northland FC for a huge NRFL Northern Conference Round 13 showdown.

With just one point separating the two sides on the table, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Northland currently sit third, with Central hot on their heels, making this a pivotal clash as the race for the championship gathers momentum with nine rounds remaining.

Meetings between these two clubs are renowned for their intensity, quality and drama, and this weekend promises another fiercely contested encounter not to be missed.

Kick-off is 3pm, entry is free, and everyone is welcome. Bring your family, bring your friends, and get behind Paul, Mark and our boys as they look to secure three massive points on home soil.

See you at Kiwitea Street this Saturday!

Strength in Unity! 💛💙

Phyllis Street Thriller ⚽️🔥🔥

The stage was set for a Friday night blockbuster between league leaders Metro and third-placed Central United. Metro arrived in ominous form after dismantling second-placed Bucklands Beach 5-1 the previous week, while Central were still smarting from a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to bottom side Te Atatū, courtesy of a late deflected winner. Throw in the intensity of a local derby under the lights on a cold winter’s evening, and all the ingredients were there for a memorable encounter.

Central emerged from the changing room fired up after a passionate team war cry, and that energy was immediately evident on the pitch. The men in yellow made a bright start and were rewarded just past the 10-minute mark. Winger Dillon Houching embarked on a dazzling run down the right before delivering the perfect ball for striker Luke Pank, who calmly finished from eight metres to give Central a deserved 1-0 lead.

The contest quickly developed into an end-to-end battle, with neither side giving an inch. Metro eventually found an equaliser just before the halftime whistle when Adam Creaney struck, sending the teams into the break locked at 1-1.

The home side seized the initiative early in the second half as Creaney grabbed his second with a close-range finish at the far post, putting Metro 2-1 ahead and sending their vocal supporters into full voice.

Central, however, refused to buckle.

Led by a determined defensive effort, the visitors gradually wrestled back control. Every tackle was fiercely contested, every block celebrated, while the back four stood resolute against repeated Metro attacks. Behind them, goalkeeper Ernest Wong once again exuded calm assurance whenever he was called upon.

In midfield, Rei Ogawa-Bracey began to stamp his authority on the contest, and in the 68th minute Central found their reward. Winning a corner on the right, captain Ben Ruffell whipped in a dangerous delivery towards the near post. Luke Pank cleverly glanced the ball on, and Ogawa-Bracey timed his run to perfection, powering home a thumping header to level the scores at 2-2. The Central players, coaching staff and substitutes erupted in celebration, while Metro were left stunned.

Both sides continued to push relentlessly for a winner, creating chances at either end in a gripping finale. But after six minutes of added time, the referee’s final whistle brought an end to a pulsating contest, with honours shared in a thoroughly entertaining 2-2 draw.

The spectators had witnessed a superb derby between two committed sides who left every ounce of energy on the field.

Central United return to their spiritual home at Kiwitea Street next Saturday to face Northland. If this performance was anything to go by, another thrilling afternoon of football awaits.

Player of the Day: Rei Ogawa-Bracey

⚽️ IT’S DO OR DIE! ⚽️

Sudden Death Football. No Second Chances.

The Vatreni and the Seleção go head-to-head in a blockbuster FIFA World Cup Round of 32 showdown where everything is on the line.

🔥 Croatia vs Portugal
🕚 Kick-off: 11:00am Tomorrow
📍 Longroom on Ponsonby Road
🍳 Brunch & lunch available
🍺 Fully licensed

The tension will be immense. The atmosphere will be electric. One nation marches on… the other goes home.

Be there for one of the biggest matches of the tournament.

Everyone is welcome! ❤️ ⚽️

𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗡𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗝𝗨𝗟𝗬 ⚽🔥

School’s out and the football is ON.

Join ACFC for four days of high‑energy training - perfect for young players aged 7-13 who want to sharpen their skills, stay active and have fun during the break.

📅 Dates: Monday 6 – Thursday 9 July
⏰ Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
📍 Venue: St Peter’s College Turf
💵 Cost: $35 per day

Dribbling, passing, take‑ons, shooting, small‑sided games — everything to keep players buzzing.

Register now: aucklandcityfc.com/holidays

Western Woes

Another glorious winter’s day set the stage at Te Atatū Park as Central United took on Te Atatū in an entertaining Northern Conference encounter.

The home side created the better of the early opportunities, but it was Central who struck first after 20 minutes. Winger Ermal Fusha drove purposefully at the retreating Te Atatū defence, leaving the right-back mesmerised with a series of dazzling touches before drawing a clumsy challenge just inside the penalty area. The referee pointed immediately to the spot, and captain Ben Ruffell calmly dispatched the penalty to give Central a deserved 1-0 lead.

Central looked set to carry that advantage into the halftime break, only for Te Atatū to strike with virtually the final kick of the half. A left-wing cross found David Hough unmarked in the area, and he made no mistake in levelling the scores at 1-1.

The visitors began the second half with real intent. In the 54th minute, Chris Clarke’s superb diagonal pass released Fusha down the flank, and his driven low cross was emphatically finished from close range by Luke Pank to restore Central’s advantage.

The yellow and blues threatened to put the game beyond doubt, creating a flurry of chances and even having two goals ruled out for marginal infringements. Unfortunately, their inability to extend the lead proved costly.

Te Atatū equalised through a heavily deflected strike from outside the penalty area before fortune again favoured the home side late in the contest, another cruel deflection wrong-footing the goalkeeper and finding the back of the net to sn**ch all three points.

It was a bitterly disappointing result for Central, who created enough clear-cut opportunities to comfortably win the match. Four gilt-edged chances went begging in the closing stages, and on another day the visitors would have walked away with a deserved victory. Instead, they were left to rue another narrow defeat despite producing one of their better attacking displays of the season.

Attention now turns to a daunting Friday night away clash against league leaders Metro. With the title race beginning to take shape, Central know that nothing less than three points will keep their championship ambitions firmly on track.

Player of the Day: Luke Pank

GALLERY | Enjoy the best moments from Croatia’s final FIFA World Cup group stage clash against Ghana, and a huge thank you to everyone who joined us at the Longroom on Ponsonby Road.

The atmosphere was absolutely electric, with a sea of Croatian colours and passionate support creating another unforgettable matchday.

Now the knockout stage awaits! Join us again on Friday as Croatia takes on Portugal in a blockbuster Round of 32 showdown. It’s win or go home, and the Longroom will once again be the place to experience every moment with fellow supporters.

Bring your voices. Wear your checkers. Let’s make it another unforgettable occasion.

IDEMO HRVATSKA! 🇭🇷🔥

⚽ THE KING HAS ONE MORE MISSION… 👑⚽

👑 🇵🇹 PORTUGAL 🆚 CROATIA 🇭🇷
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 – ROUND OF 32

The stakes couldn’t be higher.

The legends are ready.
The passion is unmatched.
The knockout rounds begin… and there are NO second chances!

🔥 Will Cristiano Ronaldo inspire Portugal?
👑 Can King Luka Modrić lead the Vatreni into the last 16 one more time?

There’s only ONE place in Auckland to experience every heart-stopping tackle, every scream-worthy goal and every moment of World Cup drama…

🍻 LONGROOM – PONSONBY ROAD

📅 Friday 3 July
🕚 Kick-off: 11:00am
🚪 Doors open early
🍳 Bruch available
🍺 Fully licensed
📺 Massive screens • Incredible atmosphere • Everyone welcome!

Wear your famous red and white checkers, bring your loudest voice and help turn Longroom into Little Hrvatska for what promises to be an unforgettable World Cup morning!

🎉 Expect singing.
🎉 Expect chanting.
🎉 Expect goosebumps.
🎉 Expect absolute football madness!

🇭🇷 IDEMO HRVATSKA! 🇭🇷

One nation. One dream. One King. One more unforgettable World Cup chapter.

THIS IS KNOCKOUT FOOTBALL… DON’T MISS A SECOND! 💥⚽ 🔥

⚽️ 🇭🇷 CROATIA vs GHANA – IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS! 🇬🇭 ⚽️

The atmosphere is building and the stakes couldn’t be higher!

Join us at The Longroom, Ponsonby this Sunday as Croatia faces Ghana in a massive FIFA World Cup showdown that promises drama, passion and world-class football from the very first whistle.

🕗 Doors Open: 8:00am
⚽️ Kick-Off: 9:00am
🍳 Breakfast Available
🍺 Fully Licensed

Pull on your Croatian colours, gather your mates and experience the electric World Cup atmosphere on the big screens. From the chants to the cheers, there’s no better place to watch the Vatreni chase another vital World Cup victory.

The Longroom is Auckland’s home of Croatian football.

Bring your voice. Bring your passion. Bring your family and friends.

IDEMO HRVATSKA! 🇭🇷 🔥

🇳🇿 GO THE ALL WHITES! 🇳🇿

Tomorrow the All Whites face their biggest challenge yet as they take on football powerhouse Belgium in a massive FIFA World Cup showdown!

Let’s get right behind Chris Wood and the boys as they look to create another unforgettable chapter in New Zealand football history.

⚽ LIVE at Kiwitea Street
🕒 Kick-off: 3:00pm
📺 Shown live on the big screens

Wear your white, bring your voice and cheer on the All Whites with fellow football fans in what promises to be a fantastic World Cup atmosphere.

Everyone is welcome!

Good luck to the All Whites tomorrow from everyone at Kiwitea Street! 🇳🇿⚽️