KEY POINTS:
The bad news outweighed the good at Kiwitea St yesterday. On the field Auckland City overcame the midweek coaching crisis to continue their perfect record over Team Wellington with a deserved 1-0 victory.
The celebrations were tempered when, in the last minute of added time, Japanese midfielder Teruo Iwamoto was sent off for a tackle from behind. The bad news continued with City learning they had lost their appeal against the stripping of the three points they won in beating Waitakere United 1-0 away three weeks ago.
With Graham Little and Costa Barbarouses pushed wide, the visitors stretched the City defence and created a number of chances for lanky striker Peter Halstead, including one when Little fired a low ball across the face of the goal which Halstead just failed to reach. But the much-changed City side played their way back into the game and Dean Gordon tested Wellington goalkeeper James Bannatyne with a 39th minute screamer. Two minutes later, and from the first corner they won, the ball was played beyond the far post from where Jonathan Smith, handed a start after originally not being in the squad, headed goal wards and into Gordon's path. He buried it and ensured the halftime lead for the home side.
The second half was dominated by City as the width and imagination went from the visitors. They forced five corners to one but failed to convert any, while Keryn Jordan and Bryan Little missed two gift-wrapped chances to increase the lead.
Iwamoto replaced Little in the 68th minute and quickly showed the silky skills which have taken him to the top. But it all turned sour when, with less than a minute of added time to play, Iwamoto and brought down Wellington defender Phil Patterson and was sent off. Auckland City will be accompanied by a second New Zealand team in next years Oceania Champions League.
In a much-anticipated call, the Oceania Football Confederation's executive has ruled against Vanuatu's Port Vila Sharks and awarded a second spot to a NZFC team.
Financial and other concerns in Port Vila led to the call to take them out of the six-team competition.
That second New Zealand team will be found today. The team leading the NZFC at end of the first round will join City in the new-look, home and away, league.
Waitakere United need only a draw against Otago United in Dunedin to confirm their top spot and a place in the OFC league. Should Waitakere lose and YoungHeart Manawatu beat Canterbury United in Palmerston North, Manawatu would take the spot alongside Auckland City.
A new Champions League draw is expected to be made within a few days.
So too is a decision on a new coach for Auckland City after the departure of Roger Wilkinson.
Ivan City chairman Vuksich, Auckland City chairman said: "We have got three or four names people who have put their names in the hat. Hopefully in a week or 10 days we will have someone on board."
Vuksich confirmed it was a "real possibility" former coach Allan Jones could take the team to the World Club Champs in Japan next month before a new manager was installed.
"The only problem is we haven't been able to talk to him properly [because he's been in China with the New Zealand women's team]. We're also told he's on crutches after tearing his ankle ligaments in training." Jones was due back this weekend.
