KEY POINTS:
Auckland City's three-year reign as national soccer league champions is over after they lost 3-4 to Wellington in the preliminary final in Auckland today.
The result marked Wellington's first win over Auckland in 13 attempts and earned them a place in the grand final next Sunday against minor premiers Waitakere United.
" There's been talk about history being against us but I told the lads that the only history we need to worry about is what we set," Wellington coach Stu Jacobs said.
"We're not there yet, however. We have to be genuine champions and that means beating both Auckland and Waitakere."
Golden boot winner Graham Little continued his fine form with a brace of goals - the second a matchwinning penalty in extra time - after earlier opening the scoring in the 24th minute from some goalmouth pinball.
Little, who has now scored 46 goals in a New Zealand Football Championship record 81 games for Wellington, looked full of running throughout the match but confirmed his 82nd game would be his last.
"The old legs are still working," Little said.
" But it's my last game next week and there'd be no better way to finish than winning the grand final."
Halftime substitute Peter Halstead also grabbed a pair for Wellington.
His first sent the game into extra time with a measured left foot curling equaliser in the 86th minute, and he then made sure of victory with his team's fourth from a breakaway as Auckland pushed for a extra time leveller.
Down 0-1 at halftime, Auckland led heading into the final 10 minutes with two goals in three minutes midway through the second spell.
Keryn Jordan provided a scything ball across the face of goal to enable Jeff Campbell to finish it off at the back post in the 70th minute.
The home side's Korean duo then combined to put them in front three minutes later with Chan-Goo Yoon subtly directing Ki-Hyung Lee's free kick past goalkeeper Phil Imray.
With Halstead sending the game into extra time, the game then turned on the penalty, as Luis Corrales made up for a relatively subdued second half by drawing Tamati Williams into a foul on the Costa Rican.
With the clock ticking down and Auckland reduced to 10 men following Greg Uhlmann's late red card for dissent, George Suri pulled a goal back but it proved merely consolation.
- NZPA
