Welcome to Kiwitea Street in Auckland for the 2009 O-League Second Leg Final between Auckland City FC (NZL) and Koloale FC (SOL).
The stakes couldn’t be higher as today’s match represents the last chance for both teams to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup United Arab Emirates 2009.
Koloale are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2-7 loss in Honiara last Saturday, while Auckland hope to finish with a strong performance in front of their home fans.
There isn’t a cloud in the sky here in Auckland but a strong, cold wind is blowing down field.
Stay tuned for all the action as Oceaniafootball.com brings you ‘live’ text updates thoughout the match.
Here are today’s starting lineups:
Auckland City FC: 3. Matt FRIEL, 4. Sam CAMPBELL, 5. Matt WILLIAMS, 6. Ki-Hyung LEE, 7. James PRITCHETT, 9. Paul URLOVIC, 10. Grant YOUNG, 12. Jacob SPOONLEY (GK), 13. Alex FENERIDIS, 15. Ivan VICELICH, 24. Milos NIKOLIC
Koloale FC: 2. Welshman HOUKARAWA, 3. Jeffrey BULE, 5. Richard ANISUA, 6. Timothy JOE, 13. Lency SAENI, 14. Nicholas MURI, 15. Mostyn BEUI, 16. Joses NAWO, 18. Henry KOTO, 19. Henry Fa’arodo, 20. Shadrack RAMONI (GK)
0′ Kick off!
1′ Grant Young charges into the penalty area but the ball goes out for a Koloale goal kick
3′ Richard Anisua drops the ball off for Nicholas Muri who puts the ball through over the top but Jacob Spoonley collects
5′ Koloale defenders are looking to hit Anisua up front
6′ A break in the game as a Koloale player is down injured
8′ Anisua beats a player on the edge of the box but his shot is blocked
9′ Matt Friel launches a throw into the box and it misses everyone but is eventually cleared by Koloale
11′ James Pritchett puts a good ball over the top for Grant Young to run onto but Koloale hit it out for a throw in
13′ No shots on goal yet as both teams play through the middle of the park
14′ Koloale almost win a corner as Lee makes a tackle on Fa’arodo but Spoonley just gets to it
16′ Auckland pass the ball well around the back
17′ Fa’arodo cuts inside and lays the ball off for Muri who has a wild shot from 35 yards. Auckland goalkick
19′ Foul for Koloale on the halfway line
19′ Anisua is injured in the tackle and makes his way to the sideline
20′ Freekick is cleared easily by Auckland
22′ Alex Feneridis is winning the ball well for Auckland in the middle
23′ Grant Young makes a strong run down the left and into the box. His cross is intended for Urlovic but Koloale keeper Ramoni just gets to it first at the near post. Best chance of the game so far
25′ Matt Friel sends another long throw into the box and Vicelich flicks it on but Koloale eventually clear
28′ Untidy play by Koloale at the back and Auckland have the throw. Matt Friel to take
29′ Vicelich gets his head to the throw but noone can connect to his flick
30′ Best chance for Koloale. Joses Nawo gets into the box on the right and puts a dangerous cross in which Spoonley spills. Sam Campbell clears the ball a metre off his own goal line
32′ First corner of the game to Auckland. Lee takes but Koloale head clear
34′ Matt Friel takes a long throw from the left handside but Koloale clear
35′ Anisua plays a brilliant cross field pass to Muri who has a good look on goal but his left foot shot is straight to Spoonley
36′ Koloale building pressure on Auckland as Anisua goes close
38′ Corner for Auckland but Koloale get to it first
39′ Yellow card: Alex Feneridis fouls Lency Saeni
40′ GOAL!! Auckland City 0 Koloale 1 The freekick is clear by Auckland but only as far as Fa’arodo who curls it into the top right corner from an angle. Spoonley caught napping and punches it into the top of the net
42′ Nikolic gets on the end of a Grant Young cross but his header is saved by Ramoni
45′ Henry Koto shoots over the top from 25 yards after good build up play by Koloale
45 +2′ Nikolic makes a dangerous run down the left and the ball falls to Matt Friel who drives it low across the box. Grant Young slides in but just can’t reach it
Half time: Auckland City 0 Koloale 1
46′ The second half gets underway
47′ Anisua lays the ball off for Muri who shoots the ball into the side netting from a tight angle
49′ Auckland have a free kick from 40 yards out on the angle. Lee takes but Koloale clear
50′ First corner of the game for Koloale. Henry Fa’arodo takes and the ball is cleared to Nawo who shoots wide
50′ Substitution: Keryn Jordan on for Urlovic
51′ Great chance for Auckland. Nikolic lofts one into the box and Jordan climbs high to win the header – his first touch of the ball. Ramoni makes an excellent save going low to his left
55′ Matt Williams beats two inside the box and Nikolic then blasts the ball over the top from just outside the six yard box
56′ Grant Young wins a penalty after Fa’arodo takes him down inside the box
56′ GOAL! Auckland City 1 Koloale 1 Keryn Jordan goes top right with the penalty
58′ GOAL! Auckland City 2 Koloale 1 Jordan is unmarked on the back post and heads home off a Lee corner
60′ GOAL! Auckland City 2 Koloale 2 Fa’arodo makes a nice run down the right and sends the ball across for Lency Saeni to volley home
64′ Grant Young goes close but shoots over from just inside the box
66′ Jordan makes a strong run into the box down the left and sends it in but Nikolic can’t get to it first
68′ Fa’arodo takes a corner and it goes through everyone
70′ Lee slices a shot wide from the edge of the box
73′ Corner by Lee is cleared to Matt Williams who send it back in for Jordan to nod down and Young’s low shot is saved by Ramoni
74′ James Prtichett gets forward and curls in a cross which Jordan head over the bar from close range.
74′ Break in play as Ramoni is down injured
78′ Jordan drives in a cross but the ball goes out for a goal kick
81′ Jordan again gets on the ball in front of goal but is caught offside
83′ Fa’arodo sends in a freekick and Muri tries a scissor kick which blasts over the goal
86′ Substitution: Grant Young replaced by Liam Mulrooney
89′ Williams plays the ball to Nikolic inside the box but his shot is saved
90′ Substitution: Lee replaced by Riki van Steeden
90 +2′ Riki van Steeden gets on the end of Jordan cross and his shot hits the side netting
Full time: Auckland City 2 Koloale 2
Auckland City FC qualify as Oceania’s representative at the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009
