Two dropped points is the price Waitakere United have paid for a missed penalty and a goalkeeping error in tonight’s O-League clash against AS Manu Ura in Papeete.

Striker Billy Mataitai scored a dramatic 91st minute equaliser to level the match at 1-1 and frustrate a Waitakere team which had seemed to be the superior unit for most of the
night.

Allan Pearce hit his 25th minute penalty low and wide after striker BenjaminTotori was brought down in the box. It seemed Pearces error would not be such a major sin when Chris
Bale drilled home a 35 yard freekick in the 63rd minute to give Waitakere a lead they so richly deserved.

However the match ended in spectacular fashion in injury time when a sweeping Manu Ura move down the right found Mataita who struck a looping shot from the edge of the penalty area. What should
have been a routine save for Eaddy turned into a nightmare as the ball fell through his hands and gave the home team an equaliser which had looked beyond them for most of the night.

The goal not only brought the crowd to their feet it blew Group A wide open and now puts Auckland City in the driving seat with a game in hand.

“I’m extremely disappointed,” said despairing Waitakere coach Chris Millicich. “It was a game that we dominated for 90 minutes and for once we failed to put all our chances
away.

“We should never have let it get to the situation in extra-time, we should have been 7-0 up.

We wasted chances, we missed a penalty, it wasn’t a case of us not being able to break them down, but just not being able to put the finishing touches on what we created.”

Benjamin Totori was a constant threat to the AS Manu Ura defense and the Solomon Island international was at the heart of most of Waitakere’s creative moves.

Adding to the despair for Waitakere was the loss of defender Jason Rowley who was taken to hospital after sustaining a suspected broken ankle just before half time.

Waitakere will next face Auckland at the Croatian Club on Wednesday 20th February in a match which will now have added significance.

Waitakere United: (from) 1-Richard Gillespie (GK), 2-Jonathan Perry, 5-Danny Hay, 6-Darren Bazeley, 7-Jason Hayne, 9-Benjamin Totori, 10-Allan Pearce, 11-Neil Sykes, 13-Daniel Koprivcic,
14-Hoani Edwards, 15-Chris Bale, 16-Neil Emblen, 17-Jake Butler, 20-Jason Rowley, 21-Graham Pearce, 22-Simon Eaddy (GK).

AS Manu Ura: (from) 3. Rex FAURA; 4. Jean Yves LY WAUT; 5. Phillipe MORETTA; 6. Tamatoa TAUIHARA; Adrien TAERO; 7. Henri TAPEA; 14. Stephane TUAIRAU; 8. Vetea TEPA; 10. Auguste
WASHETINE; 11. Hiashi KAKE; 1. Jonathan TOROHIA; 12. Hiroana POROIAE; 15. Vetea TETUANUI; 16. Daniel TAPETA [gk]; 18. Dave PENI; 20. Billy MATAITAI; 22. Temarama TAUIHARA; 23. Jean Paul
FAURA

Coach: Teivitau PITO

A crowd of around 400 has gathered for the match. There was a shower of rain before the kick off but that passed and it is now a very pleasant evening at 22 degrees celcius.

Live Updates:

8′ – Waitakere has had three half chances crosses which have been cut out by the AS Manu Ura goalkeeper. Manu Ura had one chance after breaking quickly. Its been an end to end opening to
the match.

21′ – Waitakere have been dominating posession but can’t capitilise on any of the chances they have created. Both sides have had one corner each. Benjamin Totori is causing the AS Manu
Ura defense a lot of problems with his pace.

22′ – Daniel Koprivcic missed a good opportunity from a ball played across the face of the goal.

23′ – PENALTY – Benjamin Totori broke into the box and was brought down. Goalkeeper and captain Daniel Tapeta is having lengthy discussions with the referee.

25′ – Penalty Miss – Alan Pearce stepped up and hit his shot low and wide and missed the goal completely.

28′ – As Manu Ura hit long range freekick just outside Simon Eaddy’s post.

29′ – Waitakere are dominating the match but can’t capitilize on their chances.

42′ – Waitakere have lost Jason Rowley to a suspected broken ankle. He is replaced by Darren Bazely.

43′ – A mix up between Simon Eaddy and his defense has given the home side a late corner which was eventually cleared by the Waitakere defense.

45′ – HALFTIME – Waitakere have created more chances in the opening half but havent been able to convert them into goals. Totori has made a number of good runs but they haven’t
looked clinical in the final third. AS Manu Ura look dangerous up front and their two pacey forwards have broken away on a couple of occasions. With Waitakere only playing three at the back
they have looked stretched at times.

57′ – Opening of the second half has been all Waitakere but they haven’t looked like breaking down the AS Manu Ura defense.

58′ – AS Manu Ura goalkeeper and captain Daniel Tapata has recieved a yellow card for time wasting.

59′ – Totori continues to impress with another dazzling run down the wing.

60′ – Waitakere have a series of free kicks all of which Neil Sykes hits well over the bar

61 – AS Manu Ura have two players booked. One for time wasting the other for kicking the ball away.

63′ – GOAL – 1-0 Waitakere – Chris Bale steps up and hits a freekick from 30 metres out straight into the inside of the post and into the goal.

78′ – Substitution – Daniel Koprivcic off for Jason Hayne

90 + 1 – GOAL – Waitakere 1 – AS Manu Ura 1 – Ball played square and Waitakere defense caught out. As Manu Ura’s best performer – striker Billy Mataitai- hits looping strike which Simon
Eaddy should have easily delt with, but the ball managed to loop through his hands and into the net.

Full Time – Waitakere 1 – AS Manu Ura 1 -Waitakere’s inability to capitilise on their dominance costs them dearly in extra time with a looping shot finding the back of the Waitakere net.