Soccer: Auckland in the driving seat

Auckland City are in the driving seat in chasing their fifth grand final appearance in six New Zealand Football Championship seasons.

Bouncing back from the Good Friday loss to YoungHeart Manawatu in a game with nothing on it, City beat Canterbury United 2-1 at English Park last weekend to take a handy advantage into Sunday's second leg at Kiwitea St. A draw would be enough for the home side to progress.

They could even lose 1-0 and progress on away goals.

City were back to near-full strength, with only Grant Young missing from what coach Paul Posa would see as his first-choice line-up.

Little should be read into City's last two outings at Kiwitea St.

They twice came from a goal down to draw 2-2 with Waitakere United in their O-League decider which got their rivals through on goal difference, while the Good Friday loss was suffered by a team bearing little resemblance to the one which will run out on Sunday.

Both coaches are fully aware of the importance of this game, especially as the team who goes on to win the grand final will have first claims on a place in next season's O-League. That could prove vital if Oceania restrict New Zealand to just one team in 2010-11.

Chad Coombes celebrates his 100th NZFC outing but, like team-mate Jason Hayne, he has a greater incentive. Coombes will want to show All Whites coach Ricki Herbert he deserves a ticket to South Africa.

James Pritchett and goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley, who too have played a part in the All Whites' World Cup campaign, will have similar thoughts.

City will want to get the job done in the 90 minutes of ordinary time. If it is a 2-1 win for the visitors, the tie would be decided in extra-time, any away goal scored in those 30 added minutes counting double.

The two teams turned in arguably the best game of the season at Kiwitea St in February's 1-1 draw. Since then, City have beaten them 2-1 twice at their place.

Sunday's game promises to be just as hard fought.