Soccer: Red cards soothe City's pain

Stung 3-1 by YoungHeart Manawatu in Palmerston North yesterday, Auckland City face an anxious week before attempting to book their place in the New Zealand Football Championship grand final.

But City will go into Sunday's semifinal second leg with both home advantage and in the knowledge the visitors will be without two key players.

Moments of madness saw Gustavo Saralegui and Raf de Gregorio sent off by Auckland referee Chris Kerr after being shown two yellow cards.

Waitakere United are better placed to progress after getting home 1-0 over Team Wellington at Newtown Park on Saturday. That second leg will be played at Trusts Stadium on Saturday.

Jacob Spoonley, back in goal for Auckland City and preferred ahead of in-form Ross Nicholson after returning from trials in Europe, was under pressure from the outset at Memorial Park.

After almost conceding a minute or so earlier, Spoonley handed Manawatu a gift on the half hour. He played the ball to Saralegui, who tried to chip him but instead hit the crossbar. The ball fell neatly for Jason Hayne, whose diving header opened the scoring.

In the shadow of halftime the home side made it 2-0 when Spoonley, caught off his line, was chipped by Saralegui.

Veteran City striker Grant Young got his team back into the contest in the 75th minute when he beat Manawatu goalkeeper Grant Marsh with what could be an invaluable away goal.

That joy was short-lived though, as Hayne re-established the two-goal advantage 10 minutes from time when he beat Spoonley with a rocket from the edge of the penalty area.

But the drama was with Kerr's call to dispatch Saralegui and de Gregorio.

De Gregorio was booked after just 14 minutes when he pulled down Young as he threatened to break through and score. His second booking, in the 56th minute, was for dissent.

His return from injury lasted less than an hour.

Saralegui was even sillier and more frustrating for coach Bob Sova.

He was first booked after 23 minutes for hindering Spoonley in trying to kick clear. The second yellow (and later red card) came seconds after as he took his shirt off in celebrating his goal and a 2-0 for his team.

There was no such drama - or goal scoring - in the first semifinal as Waitakere scored what might prove an invaluable away goal on their trip south.

In a match worthy of its semifinal status, Waitakere got home in a thriller.

Both teams had a handful of genuine scoring chances but in the end it was decided by a 70th-minute goal from Fijian striker Roy Krishna.

He did his chances of attracting the attention of the Wellington Phoenix no harm with an enthralling effort in front of owner Terry Serepisos.

Serepisos would also have been impressed by All Whites midfielder Andy Barron, who shared man of the match honours, surely, with Krishna.

Team Wellington coach Stu Jacobs was far from impressed, giving his team every chance in the return.

He described Waitakere's win as "lucky".

Waitakere coach Chris Milicich's retort was, simply, "it was a job well done."

* NZFC Semifinals second leg

Waitakere United v Team Wellington. Trusts Stadium Saturday 3pm.

Auckland City v YoungHeart Manawatu. Kiwitea St Sunday 2pm.