FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP JAPAN 2008 – WAITAKERE ON REDEMPTION MISSION

AUCKLAND – Waitakere United Captain Danny Hay craves redemption when his side faces trans-Tasman rivals Adelaide United at the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2008 tomorrow night.

The two sides will meet at the Tokyo National Stadium, in a play-off game with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals against Japanese outfit Gamba Osaka. The winner of that match will then meet European champions Manchester United in the semi –final.

Waitakere were beaten 3-1 by Iran’s Sepahan in last year’s FIFA Club World Cup opener, and have vowed not to make the same mistake again when they face Adelaide United tomorrow.

"It’s all about redemption for us. We were really disappointed about the way we performed last year," Hay said.  "We cannot start half asleep like we did last year."

In their debut as Oceanian champions, the West Auckland team gifted two soft goals in the first five minutes of the 2007 preliminary play-off.

"We gained a huge amount just out of the experience," said 33-year-old Hay, who played for England’s Leeds United between 1999 and 2002.

"We had a year of thinking about what was required at this level. We want to come off the pitch in this tournament after we gave our real, real best."

Waitakere coach Chris Milicich said the Adelaide game would complete "one unfinished business."

"We’ve felt unfinished in the last 12 months. As a team, we’ve played very strongly and worked our way back here."

"The reality is we are never going to win this competition," he said. "Where we’re sitting right now is an opportunity to play the second best side in Asia," he said of Adelaide, who lost to Gamba in the AFC Champions League final for a place here.

“So we have to focus on the game and that game alone."

Milicich’s side is made up of what he called "semi-professionals" who have other jobs or previously played abroad, mostly in Australia and Britain.

In the past year they have signed players like Fiji international striker Roy Krishna, 21, whom Milicich called a "very exciting talent."

Former J-League and Swiss League midfielder Adriani Pimenta of Brazil joined the side in October.

Waitakere scored an encouraging 3-1 win over Chinese side Zhejiang Greentown FC at the Ningbo Sports Centre in their final warm up game on Saturday.

Goals from Roy Krishna and a late Jeff Campbell header followed Allan Pearce’s ninth minute opener and paved the way for the win which proved the perfect preparation for Milicich and his side.

“It was just what we wanted.” said Chris Milicich. “A 3-1 win over the eighth-best professional team in China. I could not have asked for anything more.

Jonathan Perry and Danny Hay were not risked in the game as they continue their race to get fit for Thursdays match and Adriano Pimenta did not get any game time.

The players are getting used to the media spotlight, with TV and print reporters at training and 30 media attending the team’s arrival press conference on Monday.

Sky Sport 3 will be screening live coverage of the match in New Zealand from 23H30 (NZL T)

FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP JAPAN 2008

Play Off for Quarter Final

Sky Sport 3 – live Coverage (NZL)

Waitakare United (From): 1. Richard GILLESPIE; 2. Jonathan PERRY; 3. Aaron SCOTT; 5. Danny HAY; 6. Hone FOWLER; 7. Daniel ELLENSOHN; 8. Paul SEAMAN; 9. Benjamin TOTORI; 10. Allan PEARCE; 11. Neil SYKES; 12. Roy KRISHNA; 13. Daniel KOPRIVCIC; 14. Jeff CAMPBELL; 15. Christopher BALE; 16. Neil EMBLEN; 17. Jake BUTLER; 20. Jason ROWLEY; 21. Kayne VINCENT; 22.  Daniel ROBINSON; 29. PIMENTA;

Coach: Chris MILICICH (NZL)

Adelaide United (From): 2. Robert CORNTHWAITE; 3. ALEMAO; 4. Angelo COSTANZO; 5. Michael VALKANIS; 6. CASSIO; 8. Kristian SARKIES; 10. CRISTIANO; 11. Osama MALIK; 13. Travis DODD; 14. Scott JAMIESON; 15. Gyawe SALLEY; 16. Daniel MULLEN; 18. Fabian BARBIERO; 19. Sasa OGNENOVSKI; 20. Eugene GALEKOVIC; 21. Jason SPAGNUOLO; 22. DIEGO; 23. Michael MARRONE; 24. Paul REID; 25. Robert YOUNIS; 30. Mark BIRIGHITTI; 40. Lucas ANDREUCCI;

Coach: Aurelio VIDMAR (AUS)