Soccer: City keep the pressure on despite margin

Auckland City coach Paul Posa said 'we have set a target of getting through with a clean sheet'. Photo / Kenny Rodger

Auckland City coach Paul Posa admits the 7-2 win his team scored over Solomon Islands champions Koloale FC in Honiara was a "little beyond our expectations".

Barring catastrophe, City have already booked their place in December's Fifa Club World Cup and can immediately start preparing for their return to that stage for the first time in three years. But Posa insists there is no such sentiment at the club, especially among the players who go into tomorrow's second leg in front of their Kiwitea St faithful determined there will be no hiccup.

Asked how hard it has been to motivate his players in the face of what should be no more than a walk in the park to claim the O-League crown, Posa said there has been no let up.

"We have trained two nights this week since coming back from the Solomons and the sessions have been excellent. The quality of the training has been very good," said Posa. "The players realise it is almost certainly their last game together as a team and want to make it memorable.

"We have set a target of getting through with a clean sheet. That is our first target and we will build from there. We owe it to the club and our supporters to reward them with a credible performance."

For Posa it is the chance to go out on a high but at the same time keep everyone's feet on the ground.

"There have been no discussions at this stage about going to Abu Dhabi and the Club World Cup," he said. "It will obviously be a factor for some players but first we have to qualify. Let's take that step first and let the rest follow should we make it."

Despite Keryn Jordan's second-half heroics at the Tama Lawson Stadium - he netted a hat-trick in the space of 21 minutes - Posa said Jordan was again likely to play off the bench.

"With Paul Urlovic's injury Keryn was brought on earlier than we had hoped. Paul appears to be getting over his groin strain and we will hopefully get at least the first half from him."

Koloale arrived in Auckland yesterday. Coach Luke Eroi says his players are looking forward to another shot at Auckland.

"Last Saturday's match is completely out of our minds and we are starting fresh," said Eroi. "We will look to put extra numbers up front to make goals because this is our last opportunity."

O-LEAGUE FINAL, 2ND LEG

* Auckland City v Koloale FC (Solomon Islands)
* Kiwitea St, Sandringham, tomorrow 2pm (live SS3)
* Referee: Norbert Hauata (Tahiti)

Auckland City (from): John Fletcher, Matt Friel, Sam Campbell, Matt Williams, Ki-Hyung Lee, James Pritchett, Paul Urlovic, Grant Young, Alex Feneridis, Jacob Spoonley, Keryn Jordan, Ivan Vicelich, Jonathan Raj, Xavi Roca, Liam Mulrooney, Riki van Steeden, Milos Nikolic, Allan Carella.

Koloale FC (from): Welshman Houkarawa, Jeffrey Bule, Richard Anisua, Timothy Joe, Peter Taloga, Ezra Sale, Lency Saeni, Nicholas Muri, Mostyn Beui, Joses Nawo, Henry Koto, Henry Fa'arodo, Shadrack Ramoni, Eddie Ramo, Kluivert Dagi, Tony Otini.