AUCKLAND – Waitakere United’s Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) O-League hopes could receive a massive boost today if former New Zealand international defender Danny Hay passes a late fitness test.
The Herald on Sunday reports that Hay will be given as long as he wants to prove his fitness ahead of the 14H05 kick-off time at Trusts Stadium as Waitakere bid to overturn a 1-3 deficit from its first leg brush with Kossa FC at Lawson Tama Stadium two weeks ago.
Hay injured his ankle in the New Zealand Football Championship (NZFC) Grand Final against Team Wellington but travelled to Honiara for the OFC O-League Final 1st Leg despite not playing.
Hay is seen as an integral part of Waitakere United’s defence of the Oceania club title and could undergo a cortisone injection to help him through today’s match.
Kossa FC assistant coach Willie Lai said his team was optimistic ahead of the match and paid a big compliment to ground staff at Trusts Stadium yesterday after the team had a walk over the playing surface.
"The pitch is in great condition, I’m very impressed. I think the team will be satisfied with the playing surface the way it is and it will be a good game," Lai told www.oceaniafootball.com
Kossa FC’s last match – a Super 8 clash with struggling club Walas FC – ended in a 4-2 victory.
Any concerns about Kossa’s ability to defend were quickly countered by Lai who said that the three goals scored in the first leg would prove handy.
"I am confident we are capable of scoring one goal today. If we can then this match will change."
Waitakere United’s build-up to today’s game saw the Chris Milicich-coached O-League champions defeat United Soccer 1 Premiership club Hibiscus Coast 7-0 last weekend.
If Danny Hay can make a surprise return to lead Waitakere United the West Auckland club has every chance of overturning the fixture with Hay and Neil Emblen likely to cause Kossa FC goalkeeper Severino Aefi all sorts of pressure in the six yard box.
Aefi was all at sea during set-plays in Honiara but Waitakere United failed to deliver quality ball into the penalty area and – despite getting physically close to the diminiutive custodian – didn’t provide any robust challenges to test the former international’s mettle.
That is likely to change today with Waitakere United sure to ask searching questions of a Kossa FC back four that can boast only one player with proven aerial prowess – Samson Takayama.
One area of vulnerability for the host club could ironically be Hay himself; James Naka, Paul Wale, Joe Luwi and Reginald Davani possess enough skill to test the former All White although his vast experience of professional football will give that quartet its own problems.
Jonathan Perry is the only player from the Honiara leg in a white shirt that played anywhere near his potential and Waitakere United will again look to the former Football Kingz defender for a repeat performance.
Perry scored Waitakere’s crucial away goal after 49 minutes – and away goal that could prove as crucial as Commins Menapi’s strike during United’s 2-1 first leg defeat against Fijian club champions Ba at Govind Park, Ba, in 2007.
Waitakere survived a torrid opening 30 minutes in the first leg to prevail 1-0 and clinch a berth at the FIFA Club World Cup – Japan 2007 by virtue of the away goals rule.
The match will screen live in American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands with the match being screened delayed in Vanuatu on VBTC.
Live radio coverage is available from Radio Sport and Solomon Islands Broadcast Corporation.
Check www.oceaniafootball.com main page for more details.
OFC O-LEAGUE FINAL 2nd LEG
WAITAKERE UNITED (NZL) vs. KOSSA FC (SOL)
DOUGLAS FIELD
TRUSTS STADIUM
HENDERSON
KICK-OFF: 14H05 (NZLT)/13H05 (SOLT)