Soccer: Emblen's men have battle on hands

They botched the first leg of their O-League match against Hekari United, but Waitakere have two key things in their favour for the return match.

First, New Zealand teams tend to make short work of Pacific teams at home in the O-League. Secondly, Neil Emblen's men are unbeaten at home this season.

Beaten 3-0 by the Papua New Guinea champions in front of 15,000 overjoyed fans in 30C temperatures in Port Moresby on Saturday, Waitakere need to bounce back or see their dreams of a third Club World Cup appearance disappear.

"We have given ourselves a mountain to climb," said coach Emblen on his team's return last night. "The initial reaction was obviously one of disappointment with some finger- pointing, but now we have to put that behind us and move on.

"I won't be thinking about the return leg until next Sunday after we have played Canterbury United in the NZFC grand final. We have lost five games in 22 this season, which is too many for a Waitakere team but we are still in with a chance to win the two major titles."

After Emblen had missed a chance to give his team the lead in the first minute when his attempt from a corner crashed on to the crossbar and was cleared, it became a game of give and take for half an hour before Waitakere goalkeeper Danny Robinson gifted the home side the crucial first goal.

"That goal really changed things," said Emblen. "Until that point we had been right in it and creating chances. Luck didn't go our way - Roy Krishna hit the post twice and Benji [Totori] once. But that is no excuse.

"They were better on the day. Sure, we didn't get the rub of the green and we will need a bit of the luck we didn't get up there. I think they are as good as AS Magenta, which makes it a real challenge. It was hot and Henry Fa'arodo and Alick Maemae played really well but we have learned about them and know what to expect."

Emblen described the conditions at the stadium - normally a rugby ground - as hideous, but said it was the same for both teams.

In the return leg against Magenta in February, Waitakere fell behind early but then scored four unanswered goals in 55 minutes to win 4-1 after drawing 1-1 in Noumea earlier in the season.

In 2007-08, Waitakere lost 3-1 to Solomon Islands champions Kossa FC in the first leg in Honiara but took the title with a 5-0 home win in the second leg.

In crucial matches at the end of this season, Waitakere won 5-1 in Tahiti; drew 2-2 with Auckland City to take group A on goal difference; and scored a last-ditch 2-1 win over Team Wellington to make Saturday's NZFC final.