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OFC Champions League play-off
Advantage Auckland In Oceania Play-Off
by Jeremy Ruane
Reigning OFC Champions League title-holders Auckland City scored a 1-0 win over reigning New Zealand champions Wellington Olympic at Kiwitea Street on March 9 to take the advantage in their two-legged OFC Champions League National Play-off duel, the winner of which will contest this season's tournament in Tahiti in May.
As a spectacle, this was uninspiring fare, and one couldn't help but think that both teams were well short of a gallop or two to be playing two games of such significance at this stage of the season.
Common sense suggests that with the Oceania Football Confederation requiring a two-legged play-off to determine New Zealand's representative for the OFC Champions League, NZ Football should consider making the National League Grand Final a two-legged affair at a time when both contenders are at the peak of their powers, rather than have them performing when neither side is at their best, and at a time when so much is riding on the outcome.
City should have been awarded a penalty inside the first fifteen seconds, Regont Murati being felled from behind by Adam Supyk after beating the fullback en route to the area. Referee Calvin Berg ruled that the Wellington defender had played the ball, however … from behind his opponent who went to ground in the challenge? Methinks you got this early test wrong, Mr Berg.
It was one of just a handful of opportunities in a tedious first half, with City engineering the next of them in the nineteenth minute. Nathan Lobo eased past three players on a move out of his own half before releasing Liam Gillion down the left, from where he delivered a teasing cross towards Dylan Manickum.
Supyk got in front of the striker to head clear, but within seconds, Manickum was worming his way into the penalty area on the right before laying the ball back into the stride of Cameron Howieson.
His curled effort was headed clear by Gabiriele Matanisiga, sparking a Wellington counter-attack, led by Kailan Gould, and which culminated in Hamish Watson firing narrowly past Conor Tracey's left-hand post from twenty yards.
Nine minutes before half-time, Gillion made a great run across the top of the penalty area from left to right which was spotted by Murati, who rewarded it with an angled ball into his fellow flank player's stride. Gillion made his way to the by-line before picking out Howieson with an angled cross which City's skipper headed down into the stride of Michael Den Heijer, who sent a volley sailing over the bar from the edge of the penalty area.
With the half-time whistle imminent, Manickum slipped on the edge of the penalty area, but Wellington only succeeded in clearing the ball to Howieson, who slipped Gillion in on the left-hand side of the area. He evaded Matansiga's challenge before seeing his shot blocked by Scott Basalaj at the near post - the first save either save had been forced to produce in this half.
The second spell offered more attacking play, with Jordan Vale stepping in to deny Oliver Colloty inside the first sixty seconds of the half after Watson had won an aerial duel. Within two minutes, Manickum volleyed wide following more good work by Gillion, who was probably the best-performed player on the day for either side.
Gould volleyed over after Basalaj went downtown, a style of play which Wellington consistently employed throughout proceedings - far from cerebrally challenging, it must be said, not exactly attractive to watch, either, and certainly nothing which would trouble potential FIFA Club World
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Cup Finals opponents, should they overcome both this hurdle then win the OFC Champions League crown.which would trouble potential FIFA Club World Cup Finals opponents, should they overcome both this hurdle then win the OFC Champions League title.
Soon afterwards, Gould was in again, this time dragging his shot past the post after Jack-Henry Sinclair took full advantage of a Ryan de Vries blunder, the striker trying a fancy back-heeled pass to Lobo which was never on, and for which he was berated by Howieson after the attack had concluded.
Back came Auckland, Manickum blazing over under pressure when played through the inside right channel. Then Howieson sent a thirty-yard grasscutter whizzing past Basalaj's left-hand post before Lobo pinched the ball outside his penalty area and instantly brought Gillion into play in the 58th minute.
The flank player worked a one-two with Howieson, who was taken out by Watson as he played the return pass, a challenge which should have seen referee Berg brandishing a yellow card once the attack had concluded. Because Gillion, upon receipt of Howieson's pass, dashed down the left before delivering a cross which was turned over his own crossbar by Justin Gulley.
The resulting corner, taken by Gillion, prompted an almighty goalmouth scramble. Wellington survived it, but only just. Gillion then cut in off the left on the hour before unleashing a dive which flew narrowly past Basalaj's right-hand post.
Wellington finally fired a shot on target in the 67th minute, Watson playing in Gavin Hoy through the inside left channel. His low drive was well saved low to his left by Tracey, who produced a fine flying save to his left nine minutes later to prevent Jesse Randall's twenty-five yard free-kick from finding the top corner of the net.
Had that gone in, it would have levelled the scores, as Auckland had opened the scoring in the 72nd minute. Stipe Ukich had entered the fray just three minutes prior, and headed home a Vale free-kick needlessly conceded by Supyk, who earned the game's first booking for his misdemeanour.
After conceding, Wellington, who scrambled another Gillion corner off the line three minutes from time, added even more physicality to their play, and it was a wonder that Gulley only copped a yellow card for a frankly filthy challenge on Ukich in stoppage time.
Referee Berg did brandish the red card, however, sending City's doctor, Craig Panther, from the bench after he couldn't contain his ire in response to the tackle, his reaction prompting an irate response from the Wellington bench - not a good look from either side, in truth.
But Auckland were pleased with the final outcome, their 1-0 win giving them the edge in this two-legged play-off as they look to get a shot at retaining their OFC Champions League crown - unlike in the UEFA Champions League, the previous year's winner doesn't automatically qualify for the following season's competition, a situation which the region's governing body should really address for the good of the game.
Auckland: Tracey; Vale, Den Heijer, Gray, Lobo (Lee, 84); Murati, Ilich, Howieson, Gillion (Kilkolly, 90); Manickum, de Vries (Ukich, 69)
Wellington: Basalaj; Sinclair (Dimairo, 78), Matanisiga, Gulley (booked, 90), Supyk (booked, 72); Hoy, Davenport Petersen, Gould (Tongue, 64), Nguyen (Roubos, 73); Watson, Colloty (Randall, 64)
Referee: Calvin Berg
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