AUCKLAND -Waitakere United have taken the initiative in OFC O-League Group A after an Allan Pearce header sealed a hard-fought 1-0 win over Auckland City at McLeod Road,
Henderson this afternoon.
In a physical match it was Waitakere’s experienced hard-nosed approach that delivered maximum points in a result that leaves Auckland City needing nothing less than a victory of
its own over Chris Milicich’s men.
Auckland City enjoyed more chances after Pearce’s goal but lacked a ruthless cutting edge in front of goal with Paul Urlovic, Grant Young and Ki-Hyung Lee all going close in the
dying stages.
Waitakere United nearly took advantage on the counter attack but Commins Menapi’s dragback saw the ball become tangled in the feet of substitute Jason Hayne.
The win puts United on top of Group A with seven points from three matches and means that a draw will be enough to gaurentee the defending O-League champions and FIFA Club World
Cup representatives a chance at defending its Oceania title.
FIRST HALF:
0′- Both teams are warming up as we prepare for this crucial OFC O-League Group A match between the giants of New Zealand club football – Auckland City FC and Waitakere
United
1’ Allen Pearce is brought down 10 yards outside the Auckland box from a dangerous Greg
Uhlman challenge
2’ Darren Bazely hits looping free kick just wide to the left of William’s
goal
3’ Jeff Campbell see’s his shot from outside the box fizz wide of the Waitakere
goal
6’ Danny Hay rises highest from a Darren Bazely freekick and powers his his header against
Williams left post.
8’ A Jeff Campbell free kick from near the goal line takes a
deflection and is acrobatically saved off the line by Eaddy. It’s been a very lively start to the match
12’ A series of free kicks has disrupted the flow to the match. Both teams have made an
aggressive start.
17’ A quick change of pace from Benjamin Totori speeds past the Auckland defense but fails
to pull the ball back before he runs out of play. Goal kick.
19’ A Neil Sykes free kick gets turned away by joel Matthews for a corner.
20’ Jake Butler pulls down Grant Young in the corner and receives a yellow card for
consistent infringement.
21’ The resulting freekick from ‘cannon shooter’ Ki-Hyung Lee skims
the roof of the net.
24’ The game has yet to develop any flow with possession turned over very
quickly.
25’ Danny Hay meets another Bazely free kick, this time is header tamely absorbed by the
ground before bouncing into Williams arms
26’ Chad Coombes does well to cut back onto his right foot in the box but he hits his shot
straight at Eaddy and well blocked.
28’ Uhlman upends Totori just outside the box and is lucky to not
receive a card.
32’ An aimless ball by Darren Bazely nearly turns to gold for Waitakere as Tamati Williams
takes an agricultural swipe at the ball and misses it completely before he turns around and stops it before it runs into his own net.
34’ Totori is brought down by Pritchett just outside the box after a lose pass from Sigmund
gifted the Solomon Island international with the ball
35’ Bazely’s resulting free kick rebounds back to him off the wall and
his follow up shot is superbly saved by Williams.
43’ A two on two break for Auckland results in Paul Urlovic fire a shot which rebounds of
Hay’s arm. The home crowd believe it deserved a penalty.
45’ Neither side has stamped their authority on the game. The match
has been marked with a number of free kicks which have disrupted any flow to the game. Waitakere look dangerous from set pieces with Danny Hay twice coming close to breaking the stingy Auckland
defense.
HALFTIME: AUK 0 WAI 0
Auckland City and Fiji international Salesh Kumar defends the ball from a Waitakere United opponent
Substitution: Ricki Van Steeden replaces Joel Matthews for Auckland City
50’ The action is end to end but there is still no final
product.
Welcome to the Croatian Cultural Club where current O-League champions Waitakere United take on Auckland City. It’s a beautiful day in Auckland and we look set for a riveting
encounter.
51’ Referee Rakesh Varman gives a questionable freekick against Auckland Paul Urlovic and
has the City fans up in arms.
52’ A James Pritchett from the right skims Simon Eaddy’s goal and passes over ha
rmlessly.
Auckland are starting to look more threatening.
55’ Substitution: Commins Menapi on for Daniel Koprivcic
56’ Chad Coombes makes a rash challenge on Totori and picks up a yellow card for his
troubles.
57’ GOAL – 1-0 Waitakere. Some good hold up play from Menapi allows
Darren Bazely to deliver a pin point cross from wide on the right. Allen Pearce rises above the Waitakere defense to nestle his header in Williams bottom left corner.
60’ Chad Coombes rifles a left foot shot over the bar from outside the box after being left
to roam by the Waitakere defense.
62’ Simon Eaddy makes a great save from a Grant Young shot which
looked destined for the back of the net. The game is opening up and Auckland are creating the best chances.
Waitakere United’s Benjamin Totori is sent sprawling by Auckland City’s James Pritchett
68’ Grant Young blasts high and wide after being put through by Ki-Hyung Lee. Young should
have done a lot better in what has been Auckland’s best chance of the afternoon
69’ Ky-Hyung Lee lets rip from all of 40 yards and rasps the hands of
Simon Eaddy. Good effort by the former South Korea international midfielder
70’ Auckland seem to have run out of ideas up front after a purple patch where they have
dominated play but been unable to break down the Waitakere defense.
77’ Referee Varman has pulled up Simon Eaddy for taking longer than six seconds with the
ball in his hands. A call not often seen at this level, Auckland have a free kick inside the box.
78’ Cannon shooter hits the free kick straight into the wall and
crisis is averted for Waitakere
79’ Double substitution for Auckland City Paul Urloviv is replaced by
Luiz Del Monte and Jeff Campbell is replaced by John Niyonsaba
80’ Waitakere have put up a brick wall at the back that Auckland cannot
penetrate.
83’ Substitution: Benjamin Totori replaced by Jason Hayne
85’ Chad Coombes fires a left foot volley just wide after an Auckland corner spills to him
on the top of the box. Five minutes left for Auckland!
86’ Auckland have a goal disallowed after Niyonsaba’s fine work along the byline was
finished off by Campbell though the linesman judged the ball to have crossed the line.
87’ Ricki Van Steeden receives a yellow card.
90’ Jonathon Perry receives yellow card. Last chance for Auckland perhaps.
90 + 4’ Hay clears in the box to prevent any last second Auckland Heroics.
Fulltime – Auckland City 0 – Waitakere United 1.
Advantage is fully with Waitakere now with Auckland needing to win the next O-League derby in order to progress to the O-League
finals.
Squad Lists:
AUCKLAND CITY: 2. Joel MATTHEWS 5. Ben SIGMUND; 6. Ki-Hyung LEE; 7. James PRITCHETT 8. Chad COOMBES; 9. Paul URLOVIC 10. Grant YOUNG; 12. Tamati WILLIAMS (gk); 15. Jeff
Campbell; 19. Salesh KUMAR; 20. Greg UHLMANN;
Substitutes: 11. Luiz DEL MONTE; 13. Alex FENERIDIS; 16. George SURI; 21. Ricki VAN STEEDEN; 24. Sam CAMPBELL; 27. John NIYONSABA; 1. Mark FULCHER (rgk)
WAITAKERE UNITED: 2. Jonathan PERRY; 5. Danny HAY; 6. Darren BAZELY; 9. Benjamin TOTORI; 10. Allen PEARCE; 11. Neil SYKES; 13. Daniel KOPRIVIC; 15. Christopher BALE; 16.
Neil EMBLEM; 17. Jake BUTLER; 22. Simon EADDY (gk);
Substitutes: 1. Richard GILLISPIE; 4. Matt CUNNEEN; 7. Jason HAYNE; 8. Commins MENAPI; 14. Hoani EDWARDS; 21. Graham PEARCE;