Wairarapa United's dream run in the Chatham Cup soccer competition will head to Auckland after they weere drawn away to Northern Premier League leaders Bay Olympic for the semifinals.
The Masterton-based club have become Cup darlings after reaching the quarterfinals for the first time in the competition's 84 editions andcelebrated by beating three time winners Waitakere City 4-1 in nearby Carterton to reach the final four.
The home draw for the August 13 and 14 semi finals is a boost for Bay Olympic who defeated Dunedin Technical in a penalty shootout away from home at a snow covered Caledonian ground.
The Aucklanders are chasing a second straight Chatham Cup final appearance after losing 3-1 to Wellington's Miramar Rangers at North Harbour Stadium last year.
Like Wairarapa, Dunedin's Caversham are chasing a maiden appearance in the August 28 final but face another long road trip, drawing four time winners Napier City Rovers away in the semi finals, after beating Onehunga 4-0 in Auckland in the quarters.
Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley said the club would have preferred to play at home for just the second time in this season's Chatham Cup, but the team was enjoying the trip into uncharted territory and thankful for local support.
"Winning the quarterfinal was a real buzz. We felt the pressure from the local community to take that next step and so it was a huge relief for everyone," Keinzley said.
"I think quite a few people in the Wairarapa are surprised about how good the team is."
"I was surprised by the margin of victory against Waitakere but did feel that if we stuck to the game plan we could win, but maybe by one goal rather than 4-1 with two goals disallowed.
"We had one of those days where everything clicks, every player was up for it. It was probably our best 90 minutes all season."
Also riding on a Wairarapa win is the chance of a regionally-hosted final.
New Zealand Football have confirmed it would take the final outside Auckland - the host for 12 of the last 13 finals - in the case of two non-Auckland teams prevailing in the semifinals.
Semifinals draw, games played August 13 or 14:
Napier City Rovers v Caversham - Park Island, Napier
Bay Olympic v Wairarapa United - Olympic Park, Avondale, Auckland
