Football: Auckland regain title after beating Team Wellington

Auckland City celebrate their grand final win. Photo / Photosport

Auckland City 1
Team Wellington 0

Auckland City are the ISPS Handa Premiership champions for a record-breaking seventh time after beating Team Wellington in yesterday's final at North Harbour's QBE Stadium.

The Navy Blues won the title for the first time in three years when they outlasted defending champions Team Wellington in a hard-fought final.

Callum McCowatt, one of the players of the season, came up with the decisive strike in the 83rd minute. The youngster gathered the ball from a well-weighted Cam Howieson pass and slotted home a fine finish across Scott Basalaj's goal.

The victory for Auckland City takes them past Mt Wellington and Christchurch United on the all-time list of national league winners.

There was nothing separating the finalists for most of the match, with clearcut scoring chances hard to come by.

The Navy Blues finished the first half the stronger of the two sides and had the better opportunities to open the scoring. They enjoyed a good period of possession and territory in the final 15 minutes of the half, with Emiliano Tade and Darren White becoming prominent.

After the break, the evenly-fought nature of the game continued, with chances at either end.

Team Wellington had their best opportunity of the match when Andy Bevin created an intercept in the middle of the park. He found Jack-Henry Sinclair but the youngster took a tad too much time before shooting and his effort was blocked.

Auckland City 1 (Callum McCowatt 83)
Team Wellington 0