Soccer: Heat on keepers as final beckons

Goalkeepers will be under the spotlight as the finalists in the New Zealand Football Championship are found in second-leg semifinals this weekend.

James Bannatyne was outstanding for Team Wellington as they held minor premiers Waitakere United to 0-1 in the first leg. A repeat in this afternoon's decider at Trusts Stadium would give the visitors hope of winning through to next Sunday's final.

Despite not training with the team, Richard Gillespie will again start in goal for Waitakere, leaving unlucky Danny Robinson on the bench.

The pressure will be on Gillespie to reproduce the form he showed at the Fifa Club World Cup in Tokyo in December, as Robinson has been more than adequate when coach Chris Milicich has given him his chance.

Meanwhile, Chris Marsh, a regular in goal for YoungHeart Manawatu, is rated highly by his coach Bob Sova: "He has been in good form and commands his penalty area well."

There is not the same sense of stability in the Auckland City goal.

Despite a strong second half to his season and with it a string of clean sheets, former All Whites goalkeeper Ross Nicholson was overlooked for Jacob Spoonley by coach Paul Posa for the first leg in Palmerston North.

"I was totally surprised when Jacob, not Ross, turned up," said Sova. "We knew we had a chance with something from long range with Spoonley in goal and so it turned out."

Sova is struggling to come to terms with the stupidity which has cost him two key players for the return.

Gustavo Saralegui and Raf de Gregorio are serving one-match suspensions and will miss their team's most important game of the season after being sent off - both for second, unnecessary, yellow cards.

Posa said playing Spoonley was a decision he made after speaking with a number of colleagues.

"He did make a blue which cost us a goal," said Posa. "But he will be in goal again on Sunday. I'm not sure whether Ross will be involved. I can understand that he is upset."

Posa said his team were "flat" after Sunday's trip to Palmerston North was disrupted when their plane was turned back and they had hours to fill in.

Sova is well aware of the position heading into the game at Kiwitea St.

"If we lose 0-1 or something heavier like 4-2, we would go through."

But, just as quickly, he puts the task facing his team in perspective.

"Our record in Auckland is bloody terrible. We will need to fix that to have a chance."

Stu Jacobs faces a similar challenge with Team Wellington at Trusts Stadium this afternoon. He knows 1-0 will at least take it to extra time. A second away goal could seal it.

Milicich is not thinking that way.

"I think they have done well to reach the top four," said Milicich. "But we have played well all season. They will have a real go at us but I feel we have the players to cope."