Monday, May 13, 2013

Kiwi pair win through to decider


New Zealand duo Auckland City and Waitakere United eased into the OFC Champions League final over the weekend with victories over Fiji’s Ba and Vanuatu’s Amicale respectively.



It means the Oceania club showpiece will be contested between two sides from the same country for the first ever time.

New Zealand champions Waitakere United endured a tough semi-final encounter on Sunday, eventually holding off a strong challenge from Amicale in the second leg to win 2-1 and go through by an aggregate score of 4-1.

Reigning Oceania kings Auckland City comfortably overcame Fijian side Ba 7-1 on aggregate in their semi-final following a 6-1 opening leg victory on home soil.

Second-half goals from ex-All White Chad Coombes and Fijian striker Roy Krishna were enough to confirm Waitakere’s berth in the final as the home side hit back after Solomon Islands international Joses Nawo had given Amicale a shock half-time lead at Fred Taylor Park in Auckland.

Waitakere coach Paul Marshall admitted it was a far from vintage display from his charges and was relieved to have earned a result that keeps the west Aucklanders on track for an historic quadruple of trophies this season.

“It wasn’t a comfortable win and we didn’t play that well in the first half,” Marshall said.

“Sometimes you get performances like that for whatever reason. I’m not sure why we were a bit flat because we trained so well during the week but we got up at the end and, at the end of the day, it’s a pretty convincing aggregate.

"We were a lot better in the second half and it’s great to get through to the final.”

A day earlier, Auckland's progression was rarely in doubt and a goal Alex Feneridis early in the second half ensured the Kiwis were victors on the day in Fiji.

Auckland City and Waitakere United will now meet on Sunday in Auckland as they fight it out for Pacific football’s biggest prize and passage to the FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2013.

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