The Premmy Files – OFC Champions League Semis, Leg One
Sure, the Premiership ended a couple weeks back… but not everyone’s gone back to their winter clubs just yet. Auckland City and Team Wellington still have the small matter of trying to qualify for the 2018 Club World Cup to worry about.
Three weeks to the day after Callum McCowatt’s late goal sealed the Premiership title for Auckland City against Team Wellington, the two teams met again, this time at David Farrington Park for the first leg of their OCL semi-final clash. With Marist (of the Solomon Islands) and Lautoka (of Fiji) contesting the other semi. There’s a second leg next week and the final after that, with the draw guaranteeing a non-Aotearoa finalist in the OFC Champions League for the first time since 2013-14.
Before cracking on with the game itself, let’s peek back at the quarter-finals. It was always expected that the two kiwi sides would progress and meet in the final four but they did so by contrasting pathways. Maybe there was a little bit of catharsis in Team Wellington’s performance against Lae City Dwellers (Papua New Guinea). It came six days after the NZ Premmy Grand Final and these fellas probably felt they had a point to prove.
So, yeah… didn’t take too long before Angus Kilkolly cut inside and fed Nate Hailemariam, whose first touch was a bit heavy but he was quick enough to beat the keeper to the ball and lob it past him. That was the sixth minute and Lae City Dwellers were already in trouble. It was going to get a lot worse, buddy. Hailemariam added another in the 14th minute with a low volley after he’d already seen another one rock back off the crossbar. Scott Hilliar nodded in from a corner and it was 3-0 within twenty minutes.
Keeper Ronald Warisan made a few saves to reprieve his lads as the rain began to set in but then three goals in four minutes between Kilkolly and Hailemariam, the latter completing his hatty in the 43rd minute. Kilkolly wasn’t far behind, a sharp header giving him his third a minute after the game resumed. Andy Bevin followed up a Roy Kayara shot to make it eight. Some sharp play between Justin Gulley down the right and Kilkolly saw captain Gulls slip the ninth. Then right at the end Kilkolly scored his fourth and Mario Barcia rounded the goalie to complete an 11-0 win. Rather emphatic, that one.
Meanwhile Auckland City did what they had to do against Solomon Warriors (guess where they’re from) but they didn’t do it too easy. Or maybe they did, since with their continuing defensive excellence, bordering upon perfection, a 1-0 lead is as good as an 11-0 lead is for a regular team. Emiliano Tade was played in by Callum McCowatt in the 20th minute and that bloke made no mistake, putting his side into the lead and there you go.
But they took a while to add to it and had to endure some sweaty moments on the way to protecting their perfect defensive record in this competition. They were always in control but it wasn’t safe until Cam Howieson dragged a low cross into Micah Lea’alafa’s path ten minutes into the second half and he made it 2-0, which was the way it ended. A goal in each half. Again, though, the last ten mins there saw Enaut Zubikarai have to make a couple saves to preserve that eternal clean sheet.
Which brings us to the match in question. Team lineups were mostly as expected, given the homegrown player limitations in the OCL. Team Wellington were unchanged from that 11-0 triumph with the usual defence and midfield in tow and Bevin, Hailemariam and Kilkolly starting in the front three. Auckland City went with their Champions League midfield of Reid Drake, Cole Peverley and Cam Howieson while Kris Bright started up top with Tade and McCowatt.
Welly were pretty much as they lined up in the Premiership final, just two changes with Taylor Schrijvers starting instead of Jack-Henry Sinclair (Kayara at wingback) and Angus Kilkolly ahead of Ross Allen. City not so much. Darren White and Dan Morgan stayed for the same back four but with those two other midfielders getting the nod ahead of Albert Riera and Fabrizio Tavano you’d have to say it leaves them a tad more vulnerable in the centre of things.
Which’d be a fair call after what was a surprisingly open game in places. Emiliano Tade had a dig from a wide free kick just in case then soon after it was Hudson-Wihongi with a glancing header that drew a fine save out of Scott Basalaj. Five minutes later a slip from Berlanga allowed Kilkolly in behind but Zubikarai was out sharply to charge him down. Those little errors and sloppy moments were surprisingly common in this game, not sure if that’s post-season fatigue or maybe something in the air in Wellington or whatever. Tade almost benefited from a similar one at the other end about a minute later.
The best chance of the game was Tade’s, naturally. Bright gave him a flick-on from a long throw and he popped that sucker past the keeper but off the far post. Yet Team Wellington gave it a proper go, especially in the second half. A dazzling run from Kayara set one up but no attacker could get to his square cross in time. Andy Bevin made good connection on a falling volley but it was heroically blocked by Peverley and then the deflection tipped over by Zubi. Bevin went close again with twenty left after Peverley randomly passed the ball straight to him out of defence. Shot went wide though.
And right at the end an errant punch from Zubi almost fell into danger but again ACFC survived. The game ended 0-0 and City have still yet to concede in the OCL after five games. Which makes it 15 games in a row in all competitions without conceding, an increasingly illogical 1368 minutes of cleanliness. But Team Welly had chances. On another day they’d have snatched something and taken a lead into next week’s second leg at Kiwitea Street. In fact you’ve gotta wonder if they won’t regret not being able to punish them.
Auckland City love a home game. They love a close game too, knowing that they usually find that decisive goal or two. They’ll be confident going into the next game although Team Wellington shouldn’t have any fear either as they look to qualify for the Club World Cup for a first ever time – ACFC are gunning for an eighth in a row. Should be a good one, aye?
As for the other semi-final, Marist had to ride through an early injury to Anthony Talo who needed to be replaced but they responded well enough away from home to take a 1-0 advantage into the break thanks to Davidson Tome. The replacement goalie, Harold Nauina, had already had to make one smart save from a Henry Fa’arodo shot as well as watching Dave Radrigai smack one off the frame of the goal. But he wasn’t able to deny Osea Vakatalesau in the second half when he headed in from Cory Chettleburgh’s cross. 1-1 the final score and Marist will rate themselves with the second leg in their own conditions, although Lautoka were frustrated not to win the firstie and a slightly more clinical performance next time and they’ll be into the final.
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