2012–13 New Zealand Football Championship
The New Zealand Football Championship's 2012–13 season (known as the ASB Premiership for sponsorship reasons) will be the ninth season of the NZFC since its establishment in 2004. The home and away season will begin on 3 November 2012 with the final scheduled to be on 17 March 2013. As a new feature, three games will be played as curtain-raisers to Wellington Phoenix home matches in Westpac Stadium. Auckland City and Waitakere United will represent the ASB Premiership in the 2012–13 OFC Champions League after finishing Minor Premiers and Champions respectively in the 2011–12 competition.
| Season | 2012–13 | 
|---|---|
| Champions | Waitakere United | 
| Premiers | Waitakere United | 
| OFC Champions League | Waitakere United Auckland City  | 
| Matches played | 44 | 
| Goals scored | 174 (3.95 per match) | 
| Top goalscorer | Roy Krishna (12) | 
| Biggest home win | 5x 4–0 | 
| Biggest away win | Waikato 1–9 Waitakere United (Round 9) | 
| Highest scoring | Waikato 1–9 Waitakere United (Round 9) | 
← 2011–12  2013–14 →   | |
Clubs
    
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland City FC | Auckland | Kiwitea Street | 3,500 | Nike | Trillian Trust Inc. | ||
| Canterbury United | Christchurch | ASB Football Park | 9,000 | Samurai | Robbie's Bar and Bistro | ||
| Hawke's Bay United | Napier | Bluewater Stadium | 5,000 | Samurai | Kinetic Electrical | ||
| Otago United | Dunedin | Forsyth Barr Stadium | 30,500 | Canterbury | Gran's Remedy | ||
| Team Wellington | Wellington | David Farrington Park | 3,000 | adidas | Exodus Health & Fitness Club | ||
| Waikato FC | Hamilton | Porritt Stadium | 2,700 | Nike | The Soccer Shop | ||
| Waitakere United | West Auckland | Fred Taylor Park | 2,500 | Lotto Sport Italia | Cuesports Foundation | ||
| YoungHeart Manawatu | Palmerston North | Memorial Park | 8,000 | Nike | New Zealand Pharmaceuticals | 

League table
    
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waitakere United (C) | 14 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 48 | 12 | +36 | 37 | Qualified for the 2013–14 OFC Champions League | 
| 2 | Auckland City | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 44 | 18 | +26 | 33 | |
| 3 | Canterbury United | 14 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 34 | 19 | +15 | 28 | Qualified for the 2013 ASB Premiership Finals | 
| 4 | Hawke's Bay United | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 29 | 21 | +8 | 24 | |
| 5 | Team Wellington | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 27 | 21 | +6 | 21 | |
| 6 | Waikato FC | 14 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 18 | 48 | −30 | 9 | |
| 7 | Otago United | 14 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 14 | 40 | −26 | 6 | |
| 8 | YoungHeart Manawatu (R) | 14 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 15 | 50 | −35 | 6 | Team withdrew and joined the ASB Youth League | 
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Regular season
    
    Round 1
    
Saturday, 3 November 2012
| 2:00pm Saturday | Auckland City FC | 5–2 | Canterbury United | Kiwitea Street, Auckland | 
| Adam Dickinson  Chris Bale Albert Riera Emiliano Tade  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Julyan Collett  Aaron Clapham  | 
Attendance: 635 Referee: Peter O'Leary  | 
Sunday, 4 November 2012
| 12:00pm Sunday | Otago United | 0–3 | YoungHeart Manawatu | Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin | 
| Preview  Report  | 
Tomas Mosquera  | 
Attendance: 250 Referee: Issac Trevis  | 
| 12:00pm Sunday | Waikato FC | 0–2 | Hawke's Bay United | Porritt Stadium, Hamilton | 
| Preview  Report  | 
Sean Lovemore  | 
Attendance: 300 Referee: John Rowberry  | 
| 2:00pm Sunday | Waitakere United | 3–0 | Team Wellington | Fred Taylor Park, West Auckland | 
| Roy Krishna  David Mulligan Allan Pearce  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Attendance: 347 Referee: Matt Conger  | 
Round 2
    
Sunday, 11 November 2012
| 1:45pm Sunday | Team Wellington | 0–1 | Canterbury United | Westpac Stadium, Wellington | 
| Preview  Report  | 
Julyan Collett  | 
Attendance: 402 Referee: Mark Hester  | 
| 2:00pm Sunday | Waitakere United | 1–0 | Waikato FC | Fred Taylor Park, West Auckland | 
| David Mulligan  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Attendance: 328 Referee: Isaac Trevis  | 
| 2:00pm Sunday | Hawke's Bay United | 4–2 | YoungHeart Manawatu | Bluewater Stadium, Napier | 
| Stephen Hoyle  Cole Peverley Sean Lovemore  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Tom Mosquera  Lewis Cumber  | 
Attendance: 413 Referee: Nick Waldron  | 
| 2:00pm Sunday | Otago United | 1–3 | Auckland City FC | Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin | 
| Regan Coldicott  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Luis Corrales  Alex Feneridis  | 
Attendance: 200 Referee: Campbell-Kirk Waugh  | 
Round 3
    
Sunday, 18 November 2012
| 1:00pm Sunday | Waikato FC | 1–4 | Team Wellington | Porritt Stadium, Hamilton | 
| Eder Franchini  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Hamish Watson (2)  Cory Chettleburgh Karsten Viborg  | 
Attendance: 450 Referee: Matt Conger  | 
| 2:00pm Sunday | YoungHeart Manawatu | 0–5 | Waitakere United | Memorial Park, Palmerston North | 
| Preview  Report  | 
Ryan de Vries  David Mulligan Roy Krishna Allan Pearce George Slefendorfas  | 
Attendance: 400 | 
| 2:00pm Sunday | Canterbury United | 2–1 | Otago United | ASB Football Park, Christchurch | 
| Darren White  Dimitar Bayrev  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Joel Stevens  | 
Referee: Mirko Benischke | 
| 2:30pm Sunday | Auckland City FC | 1–1 | Hawke's Bay United | Kiwitea Street, Auckland | 
| Alex Feneridis  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Sean Lovemore  | 
Round 4
    
Sunday, 25 November 2012
| 12:00pm Sunday | Waikato FC | 0–5 | Canterbury United | Centennial Park, Ngāruawāhia | 
| Preview  Report  | 
Russell Kamo  Aaron Clapham Darren White Ashley Welborn  | 
Attendance: 250 Referee: Nick Waldron  | 
| 2:00pm Sunday | Waitakere United | 1–1 | Auckland City FC | Fred Taylor Park, West Auckland | 
| Jake Butler  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Luis Corrales  | 
Attendance: 650 Referee: Mirko Benischke  | 
| 2:00pm Sunday | Team Wellington | 3–1 | YoungHeart Manawatu | David Farrington Park, Wellington | 
| Tobias Bertsch  Henry Fa'arodo Justin Gulley  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Tom Mosquera  | 
Attendance: 412 Referee: Peter O'Leary  | 
| 2:00pm Sunday | Hawke's Bay United | 2–0 | Otago United | Bluewater Stadium, Napier | 
| Rudi Bauerfiend  Sean Lovemore  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Attendance: 412 Referee: Matt Conger  | 
Round 5
    
Sunday, 2 December 2012
| 1:45pm Sunday | YoungHeart Manawatu | 2–3 | Waikato FC | Westpac Stadium, Wellington | 
| Tom Mosquera  | 
Preview  Rrport  | 
Rory Turner  Sam Margetts Ryan Thomas  | 
Attendance: 150 Referee: Campbell Kirk Waugh  | 
| 2:00pm Sunday | Waitakere United | 4–1 | Otago United | Fred Taylor Park, West Auckland | 
| David Mulligan  Jake Butler Roy Krishna Ryan De Vries  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Joel Stevens  | 
Attendance: 212 Referee: Nick Waldron  | 
| 2:30pm Sunday | Canterbury United | 4–0 | Hawke's Bay United | English Park, Christchurch | 
| Aaron Clapham  Russell Kamo Dan Terris  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Attendance: 400 Referee: John Rowbury  | 
Round 6
    
Sunday, 9 December 2012
| 1:45pm Sunday | Team Wellington | 0–1 | Otago United | Westpac Stadium, Wellington | 
| Report | Joel Stevens  | 
Attendance: 412 Referee: Mirko Benischke  | 
| 2:00pm Sunday | YoungHeart Manawatu | 0–2 | Canterbury United | Memorial Park, Palmerston North | 
| Report | Darren White  Russell Kamo  | 
Attendance: 150 Referee: Mark Hester  | 
| 2:30pm Sunday | Waitakere United | 3–1 | Hawke's Bay United | Fred Taylor Park, West Auckland | 
| Brian Shelley  David Mulligan Milos Nikolic  | 
Report | Stephen Hoyle  | 
Attendance: 273 Referee: Matt Conger  | 
Round 7
    
Sunday, 16 December 2012
| 1:00pm Sunday | Otago United | 1–6 | Waikato FC | Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin | 
| Tristan Prattley  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Jack Hobson-McVeigh  Eder Franchini Rory Turner Hone Fowler  | 
Attendance: 200 Referee: Matt Conger  | 
| 2:00pm Sunday | Auckland City FC | 4–0 | YoungHeart Manawatu | Kiwitea Street, Auckland | 
| Chris Bale  Emiliano Tade Manel Exposito David Browne  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Attendance: 1027 Referee: Isaac Trevis  | 
| 2:00pm Sunday | Hawke's Bay United | 3–0 | Team Wellington | Bluewater Stadium, Napier | 
| Dakota Lucas  Cole Peverley Connor Tinnion  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Attendance: 426 Referee: Nick Waldron  | 
| 2:00pm Sunday | Canterbury United | 1–3 | Waitakere United | ASB Football Park, Christchurch | 
| Dan Terris  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Jake Butler  Roy Krishna Ryan de Vries  | 
Attendance: 400 Referee: Mirko Benischke  | 
Round 6 Catch Up
    
Sunday, 6 January 2013
| 5:30pm Wednesday | Waikato FC | 1–4 | Auckland City FC | Centennial Park, Ngāruawāhia | 
| Sam Margetts  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Daniel Koprivcic  Manel Exposito  | 
Attendance: 513 Referee: Mirko Benischke  | 
Round 8
    
Sunday, 12 January 2013
| 4:00pm Saturday | Team Wellington | 1–3 | Waitakere United | David Farrington Park, Wellington | 
| Darren Cheriton  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Brian Shelley  Roy Krishna  | 
Attendance: 212 Referee: Campbell-Kirk Waugh  | 
Sunday, 13 January 2013
| 2:00pm Sunday | Canterbury United | 1–3 | Auckland City FC | ASB Football Park, Christchurch | 
| Andrew Barton  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Alex Feneridis  Daniel Koprivcic Emiliano Tade  | 
Attendance: 600 Referee: Issac Trevis  | 
| 2:00pm Sunday | Hawke's Bay United | 4–0 | Waikato FC | Bluewater Stadium, Napier | 
| Jarrod Smith  Conor Tinnion Sean Lovemore  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Attendance: 413 Referee: R Scholes  | 
| 2:00pm Sunday | YoungHeart Manawatu | 1–4 | Otago United | Memorial Park, Palmerston North | 
| Suele Soromon  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Aaron Burgess  Regan Coldicott  | 
Attendance: 150 Referee: N Waldron  | 
Round 9
    
Sunday, 20 January 2013
| 2:00pm Sunday | Auckland City FC | 3–1 | Otago United | Kiwitea Street, Auckland | 
| Andrew Milne  Manel Exposito Adam Dickinson  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Regan Coldicott  | 
Attendance: 934 Referee: Jon Rowberry  | 
| 2:00pm Sunday | YoungHeart Manawatu | 1–5 | Hawke's Bay United | Memorial Park, Palmerston North | 
| Seule Soromon  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Dakota Lucas  Cole Peverley Sean Lovemore Jarrod Smith  | 
Referee: Mirko Benischke | 
| 2:00pm Sunday | Waikato FC | 1–9 | Waitakere United | Porritt Stadium, Hamilton | 
| Sunny Singh  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Allan Pearce  Brian Shelley Chad Coombes Roy Krishna Ryan De Vries  | 
Attendance: 439 Referee: Peter O'Leary  | 
| 2:00pm Sunday | Canterbury United | 0–2 | Team Wellington | ASB Football Park, Christchurch | 
| Preview  Report  | 
Wiremu Patrick  Luis Corrales  | 
Attendance: 400 Referee: Mark Hester  | 
Round 10
    
Saturday, 26 January 2013
| 2:00pm Saturday | Waitakere United | 4–0 | YoungHeart Manawatu | Fred Taylor Park, West Auckland | 
| Tim Myers  Roy Krishna  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Attendance: 342 Referee: Mark Hester  | 
| 2:00pm Saturday | Team Wellington | 1–0 | Waikato FC | David Farrington Park, Wellington | 
| Luke Rowe  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Attendance: 251 Referee: Issac Trevis  | 
Sunday, 27 January 2013
| Hawke's Bay United | 1–1 | Auckland City FC | Bluewater Stadium, Napier | |
| Jarrod Smith  | 
Report | Pedro Garcia  | 
Attendance: 516 Referee: J Rowbury  | 
| 3:00pm Sunday | Otago United | 1–4 | Canterbury United | Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin | 
| Regan Coldicott  | 
Report | Ken Yamamoto  Ashley Wellbourn Andy Barton  | 
Attendance: 300 Referee: Campbell-Kirk Waugh  | 
Round 11
    
Saturday, 2 February 2013
| 1:00pm Saturday | Auckland City FC | 2–3 | Waitakere United | Kiwitea Street, Auckland | 
| Alex Feneridis  Manel Exposito  | 
Report | Luiz Del Monte  Roy Krishna Tim Myers  | 
Attendance: 1876 Referee: Matt Conger  | 
Sunday, 3 February 2013
| 12:00pm Sunday | Otago United | 1–3 | Hawke's Bay United | Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin | 
| Victor da Costa  | 
Report | Jarrod Smith  Stephen Hindmarch Sean Lovemore  | 
Attendance: 200 Referee: Mirko Benischke  | 
| 2:00pm Sunday | Canterbury United | 4–0 | Waikato FC | ASB Football Park, Christchurch | 
| Aaron Clapham  Russell Kamo Ken Yamamoto  | 
Report | Attendance: 275 Referee: Peter O'Leary  | 
| 2:00pm Sunday | YoungHeart Manawatu | 0–6 | Team Wellington | Memorial Park, Palmerston North | 
| Report | Wiremu Patrick  Rowe Dominic Luke Rowe Hamish Watson  | 
Attendance: 200 Referee: J Rowbury  | 
Round 5 Catch Up
    
Wednesday, 6 February 2013
| 2:00pm Wednesday | Auckland City FC | 3–2 | Team Wellington | Kiwitea Street, Auckland | 
| Chris Bale  Manel Exposito Ivan Vicelich  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Henry Fa'arodo  Cory Chettleburgh  | 
Attendance: 716 Referee: Campbell-Kirk Waugh  | 
Round 12
    
Sunday, 10 February 2013
| 1:00pm Sunday | Otago United | 1–4 | Waitakere United | Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin | 
| Regan Coldicott  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Ryan De Vries  Milos Nikolic  | 
Attendance: 220 Referee: I. Trevis  | 
| 2:00pm Sunday | Hawke's Bay United | 1–1 | Canterbury United | Bluewater Stadium, Napier | 
| Connor Tinnion  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Aaron Clapham  | 
Attendance: 464 Referee: Nick Waldron  | 
| 2:30pm Sunday | Waikato FC | 2–3 | YoungHeart Manawatu | Porritt Stadium, Hamilton | 
| Rory Turner  Gurjeep Singh  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Seule Soromon  Sam Redwood  | 
Attendance: 304 Referee: Mirko Benischke  | 
| 4:00pm Sunday | Team Wellington | 2–3 | Auckland City FC | David Farrington Park, Wellington | 
| Darren Cheriton  Hamish Watson  | 
Preview  Report  | 
Adam Dickinson  Simon Arms Daniel Koprivcic  | 
Attendance: 305 Referee: Peter O'Leary  | 
Round 13
    
Sunday, 17 February 2013
| 2:00pm Sunday | Auckland City FC | 7–1 | Waikato FC | Kiwitea Street, Auckland | 
| Gustavo Souto  Alex Feneridis Adam Dickinson Manel Exposito Emiliano Tade Chris Bale  | 
Report | Sunny Singh  | 
Attendance: 874 Referee: Nick Waldron  | 
| 2:00pm Sunday | Otago United | 0–2 | Team Wellington | Rugby Park, Invercargill | 
| Report | Henry Fa'arodo  Hamish Watson  | 
Attendance: 350 Referee: Mark Hester  | 
| 2:10pm Sunday | Canterbury United | 4–1 | YoungHeart Manawatu | ASB Football Park, Christchurch | 
| Aaron Clapham  Russell Kamo  | 
Report | Seule Soroman  | 
Attendance: 375 Referee: Matt Conger  | 
| 2:15pm Sunday | Hawke's Bay United | 0–3 | Waitakere United | Bluewater Stadium, Napier | 
| Report | Jake Butler  Matt Cunneen Ryan De Vries  | 
Attendance: 415 Referee: Peter O'Leary  | 
Round 14
    
Saturday, 23 February 2013
| 1:30pm Saturday | Team Wellington | 4–2 | Hawke's Bay United | David Farrington Park, Wellington | 
| Luis Corrales  Hamish Watson Adam McGeorge  | 
Report | Stephen Hoyle  Dakota Lucas  | 
Attendance: 222 Referee: Mirko Benischke  | 
Sunday, 24 February 2013
| 1:00pm Sunday | Waikato FC | 3–1 | Otago United | Centennial Park, Ngāruawāhia | 
| Gurjeep Singh  Alexis Cárcamo  | 
Report | Aajay Cunningham  | 
Referee: Peter O'Leary | 
| 1:00pm Sunday | Waitakere United | 2–3 | Canterbury United | Fred Taylor Park, West Auckland | 
| Milos Nikolic  Louie Bush  | 
Report | Aaron Clapham  Russell Kamo  | 
Attendance: 609 Referee: Nick Waldron  | 
| 2:00pm Sunday | YoungHeart Manawatu | 1–4 | Auckland City FC | Memorial Park, Palmerston North | 
| Dale Higham  | 
Report | Emiliano Tade  Manuel Exposito Daniel Saric  | 
Attendance: 150 Referee: Campbel-Kirk Waugh  | 
Finals
    
    Semi-finals – first leg
    
Sunday, 3 March 2013
| 2:00 pm Sunday | Hawke's Bay United | 1–4 | Waitakere United | Bluewater Stadium, Napier | 
| 2:00 pm Sunday | Canterbury United | 1–2 | Auckland City FC | ASB Football Park, Christchurch | 
Semi-finals – second leg
    
Saturday, 9 March 2013
| 2:00 pm Saturday | Waitakere United | 6–4 | Hawke's Bay United | Fred Taylor Park, West Auckland | 
Sunday, 10 March 2013
| 2:00 pm Sunday | Auckland City FC | 3–1 | Canterbury United | Kiwitea Street, Auckland | 
Final
    
Sunday, 17 March 2013
| 2:00 pm Sunday | Waitakere United | 4–3 (a.e.t.) | Auckland City FC | Fred Taylor Park, West Auckland | 
| Roy Krishna  Allan Pearce  | 
Report | Manel Exposito  Chris Bale  | 
Attendance: 1600 Referee: Peter O'Leary  | 
Positions by round
    
* Signals catch-up rounds
Season statistics
    
    Leading goalscorers
    
Updated to end of regular season
| Total | Player | Team | Goals per Round[note 1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Roy Krishna | Waitakere United | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Aaron Clapham | Canterbury United | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Sean Lovemore | Hawke's Bay United | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Ryan De Vries | Waitakere United | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hamish Watson | Team Wellington | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manel Exposito | Auckland City FC | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Tomas Mosquera | YoungHeart Manawatu | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Russell Kamo | Canterbury United | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Regan Coldicott | Otago United | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Emiliano Tade | Auckland City FC | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A goal was scored from a penalty kick Two goals were scored from penalty kicks
Own goals
    
Updated to end of regular season
| Total | Player | Team | Week(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louie Bush | Canterbury United (v Waitakere United) | 14 | |
Notes
    
- Goals scored within Round 5 Catch-up were included within Round 5, and goals scored within Round 6 Catch-up were included within Round 6
 
ASB Premiership Monthly Awards
    
| Month | Most Outstanding Player | Coach of the Month | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Club | Player | Club | |
| November 2012 | Canterbury United | Hawke's Bay United | ||
| December 2012 | Waitakere United | Waitakere United | ||
| January 2013 | Waitakere United | Auckland City FC | ||
| February 2013 | Canterbury United | Canterbury United | ||
Attendances
    
| Team | Home average | 
|---|---|
| Auckland City | 1,010 | 
| Hawke's Bay United | 437 | 
| Canterbury United | 408 | 
| Waitakere United | 394 | 
| Waikato FC | 376 | 
| Team Wellington | 317 | 
| Otago United | 246 | 
| YoungHeart Manawatu | 200 | 
References
    
- "NZ Football Championship 2012/2013 - Attendance". worldfootball.net.