KEY POINTS:
Waitakere United 1
Auckland City 1
Japan's bright lights are again beckoning Waitakere United, but coach Chris Milicich is determined he and his players will not get ahead of themselves.
A typically hard-fought draw over long-time adversaries Auckland City at Trusts Stadium last night ensured United top
spot in group A of the O-League.
They will now play group B winners, Solomon Island's Kossa FC, home and away, for the right to play in Fifa's Club World Cup in December. The call on which team will have first-up home advantage for the April 26/May 3 playoffs will be made tomorrow.
"We are there [in the O-League playoffs] but they [Auckland City] are still a good side and made us work every minute of the way," said Milicich, before joining his players in celebrating a (so far) season-long unbeaten record against their nemesis.
"It was all about taking your chances. We got one but should have had at least two more."
Again, though, it was superb defensive effort from the United rearguard that won through.
A reluctance to "shoot on sight" by the City strikers enabled the Waitakere defence to quickly regroup and nullify any threatening half-chances.
City strikers Keryn Jordan and Grant Young shrugged off the effects of the weekend trip to Tahiti to bustle and hustle throughout, but in Jonathan Perry, Danny Hay and Neil Emblen - all players of much the same vintage - they had few clear scoring chances.
It was always going to be tight with the fear an early United goal would end it as a contest, but it was the visitors who seized the early goal, forcing United to play catch-up.
Korean sharpshooter Ki-Hyung Lee, from the edge of the penalty area, blasted a freekick through an ineffectual United defensive wall for the 2m 43s opener.
The equaliser came in the 28th minute but not without a hint of controversy.
Allan Pearce ran on to a long, through ball, but with little hope of gathering he was (maybe) clipped by goalkeeper Tamati Williams.
Tahitian referee Norbert Hauata, who was never averse to blowing his whistle at the mere hint of a player falling over, pointed to the spot. Surprisingly though, he simply booked Williams rather than red-carding him as the last defender.
From the spot, Pearce thumped his shot on to the underside of the bar and, ruled by the linesman, over the line. Pearce, playing in front of All Whites/Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert again impressed with his non-stop toil.
The two best chances in the second half fell to the home side, but woeful finishing from substitute Commins Menapi and Jake Butler did not test Williams.
City must quickly regroup for Sunday's must-win NZFC clash with Team Wellington.
United head south in search of the point they need to assure themselves of the minor premiership.