Wellington sprinted into an early lead when Greg Draper flashed home a header from an Andy Barron near post corner after just six minutes. All Whites midfielder Barron was in on the act again just seven minutes later when he broke clear of the Waitakere defence to slot past Waitakere goalkeeper Danny Robinson to make it 2-0 on 13 minutes.
But Waitakere hit back just five minutes later when Benjamin Totori waltzed through the Wellington defence to score the first of what could yet be two vital away goals.
However Draper restored Wellington’s two-goal margin in the 56th minute with a superb strike from 30 metres out as the home side clung to their lead.
With Waitakere desperate for another away goal, Allan Pearce cut Wellington’s lead in half when he powered a header past James Bannatyne from a corner midway through the second-half.
Meanwhile, Auckland City will also take two valuable away goals home to Kiwitea Street in the second leg of their semi-final next Sunday, but unlike neighbours Waitakere they have the lead after a 2-1 win over Canterbury United at English Park today.
Veteran defender Gareth Rowe gave Canterbury a dream start when he bundled the ball over the line after Auckland goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley had parried a Matt Boyd effort after just seven minutes.
But Auckland bounced back from the early setback when Jason Hayne headed the minor premiers’ level from a James Pritchett cross on 20 minutes. Auckland then capitalised on a Canterbury defensive error just ten minutes later, when Daniel Koprivcic scored to give Auckland the lead.
Canterbury now need to inflict a rare 2-0 home defeat on Auckland City in the return leg next weekend to progress to the April 25 grand final while Waitakere have a more complicated task.
To date, Wellington has scored eight goals in three games against Waitakere this season and will be confident ahead of the return leg.
A Waitakere win by any margin will see them progress, while a 3-2 Waitakere win would take the game to extra time.
For Wellington, a win or draw would see them through to their first grand final since 2008.
Story courtesy NZF Media
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