Soccer: Auckland City save the best for last

Waitakere's Christopher Bale soars over Paul Urlovic of Auckland City in their clash at Trusts Stadium. Photo / Richard Robinson

Auckland City played second fiddle to Waitakere United for most of the New Zealand Football Championship season, but when it came to the big show they hit the right notes, in a come-from-behind 2-1 win over their arch-rivals to claim the silverware.

The debate over the merit or otherwise of playing such a showpiece final will long continue but in the meantime, City, deservedly (on what they managed at Trusts Stadium yesterday) can hold their heads high.

Waitakere coach Chris Milicich was pointing the finger at missed opportunities by striker Roy Krishna for his team's demise but, in reality, it was a dreadful bungle by his goalkeeper Richard Gillespie that cost United the most.

This was, from the outset, another chapter in the long-running saga of absorbing battles between the cross-town rivals.

No surprise, rugged defender Greg Uhlmann needed only four minutes to find his way into referee Michael Hester's black book for an unseemly challenge on Krishna - the third of three early dubious City tackles. The die had been cast.

The opening goal followed in the 17th minute.

The ball was played wide to Krishna. City right back Matt Friel had neither the pace nor the inclination to chase. Krishna played the ball in to Benjamin Totori who found Allan Pearce unmarked. He tapped home for a 1-0 led.

The next hour produced a handful of half chances and plenty of tension, but no goals. The visitors had plenty of chances to score.

It wasn't until the restart after a 77th-minute Waitakere corner that City struck.

Goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley played the ball to James Pritchett who sent it long to 70th-minute substitute Keryn Jordan. He passed his marker before deftly, from the penalty spot, beating Gillespie with a pin-point header.

With the clock winding down, City struck again.

Hester ignored City calls for hand ball, waved play on and Paul Urlovic, more in hope than anything else, snapped a shot from outside the penalty area. Gillespie seemed to have it covered - he got his hands to the ball but a schoolboy howler let it slip agonisingly through his fingers.

There was nowhere to hide.

"I'm thrilled for the boys. In the end they deserved it," said victorious City coach Paul Posa. "On the day it is hard to argue with the result. It took a special goal from Keryn Jordan to give us a chance. We took it."

Milicich was in a different frame of mind. "You miss three one-on-ones you don't win. We let in a sloppy second goal. Congratulations to them. Hats off to them but to lose a title to a team who finished eight points behind leaves you extremely gutted."