Grand Final 2017

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Grand Final 2017

Team Wellington Top Auckland In Grand Final Again

by Jeremy Ruane

Team Wellington claimed back-to-back Stirling Sports Premiership titles at QBE Stadium on April 2, quashing Auckland City's bid to clinch a record seventh national league crown by prevailing 2-1 in a Grand Final played in steady rain.

City were the first team to threaten in the contest, Ryan de Vries' series of stepovers turning Justin Gulley this way and that in the penalty area before parting Fabrizio Tavano's hair with a cross which signalled the "Navy Blues"' intentions.

But this incident apart, the reigning champions enjoyed the better of the early exchanges, and in the tenth minute, they opened the scoring when City's defence switched off as Andy Bevin gathered the ball on the left. His cross found Ben Harris ghosting in behind all-comers, and from six yards, he gave Enaut Zubikarai no chance with a bullet header as the 'keeper's defence appealed in vain for offside.

Straight from the kick-off, the title-holders went desperately close to doubling their tally. City's attack broke down, and Bevin, in the centre circle, spotted Zubikarai well out of goal, so tried the audacious - a fifty yard chip which left the 'keeper beaten all ends up, only to crash back into play off the crossbar.

City struggled to recover their poise, not that Wellington gave them a chance to. In the seventeenth minute, Josh Margetts combined with Leonardo Villa and Tom Jackson, whose deft back-heeled pass invited Harris to let rip from twenty yards. His effort flashed over the crossbar, and finally brought Auckland to life in an attacking sense.

Five minutes later, they went desperately close to levelling the scores with a terrific move. Albert Riera and Cameron Howieson combined in midfield before the latter released Emiliano Tade on the left. His low cross fizzed just behind de Vries, but no-one in navy blue was following in behind - had they been, Wellington 'keeper Scott Basalaj was stranded at his near post.

Just shy of the half-hour mark, City levelled the scores with a tremendous goal. Concerted build-up play on the left flank ultimately found its outlet in Tade, who tore past two defenders before surging between two more, at which point he unleashed a thunderous twenty yard drive which careered unerringly between the diving figure of Basalaj and his near post - 1-1, and a goal well worthy of the Grand Final stage upon which it was scored.

Wellington went close to regaining the lead three minutes later, courtesy a Darren White error. Joel Stevens got in behind him and promptly drilled a low cross into the goalmouth. With Jackson sliding in, Zubikarai managed to parry the ball across the face of goal and beyond the far post, where Bevin, charging in, could only drill it into the side-netting from the most acute of angles.

Back came Auckland, more inspired work by Tade presenting de Vries with a chance, which Bill Robertson blocked at point blank range in the 33rd minute. Ten minutes later, and after the already booked Harris had been given his last warning by referee Campbell-Kirk Waugh, City went closer still.

White sent de Vries dashing through in behind Gulley, and the striker executed a sumptuous chip which looked to have Basalaj beaten for all money.

But the back-pedalling 'keeper arched backwards and just managed to tip the ball over the bar, with Howieson heading narrowly wide from Tade's resulting corner.

City started the second half brightly, with Tade again engineering an opening for de Vries, this time in the 48th minute. He failed to take it, and Wellington made Auckland pay dearly for doing so just three minutes later.

A short corner routine saw the ball played to Stevens, who clipped a cross to the far post, where Harris rose above Mario Bilen to power home his second headed goal of the game and restore the title-holders' advantage on the scoreboard.

City sought a swift riposte, de Vries' donkey work on the right straight from the kick-off resulting in a shot on the turn from Tade, which Taylor Schrijvers blocked at point-blank range.

Seconds later, Bilen blazed over from a tight angle after de Vries and Riera's work on the left had resulted in a cross which was cleared to Tavano, whose shot was blocked, ricocheting into the path of the central midfielder in the 54th minute.

Back came Wellington, Bevin leading the charge before Gulley picked out Harris with a cross. He was denied a headed hat-trick by Zubikarai's save, while Stevens was thwarted by the Spanish 'keeper five minutes later, City's custodian tipping the twenty-five yard drive over the bar.

Villa and Tavano exchanged shots on goal inside the next five minutes - Zubikarai saved the former's effort, while the latter's attempt fizzed along the rain-slicked surface before rolling inches past the post. City then suffered a blow when de Vries landed heavily following an aerial duel, and was unable to continue.

His departure prompted the introduction of Clayton Lewis, who inspired a concerted spell of pressure as the Oceania champions sought a second equaliser. Tade went desperately close with a twenty-five yard effort, while a Lewis thunderbolt careered narrowly past the angle upon receipt of a lay-off from fellow substitute Joao Moreira.

Wellington weathered the storm, and looked to punish Auckland on the counter-attack. Zubikarai plucked a Villa free-kick off the head of Harris seven minutes from time, then blocked Nathaniel Hailemariam's low drive after Gulley, Stevens and Bevin had combined at pace.

City responded with a last flourish, with Lewis and Moreira combining on the right before Tade set up substitute Abdul Al-Kalisy for a shot through the crowd which Basalaj smothered. They had other chances, but none which threatened a goal, and when the final whistle sounded, a jubilant Wellington celebrated back-to-back titles, a win their overall display deserved.

Auckland: Zubikarai; White, Berlanga, Dordevic, Rogers (booked, 16) (Al-Kalisy, 83); Bilen (Moreira, 62), Riera (booked, 90), Howieson; de Vries (Lewis, 73), Tavano, Tade

Wellington: Basalaj; Schrijvers (Hailemariam, 56), Robertson, Gulley; Margetts, Bevin, Kirwan (Barcia, 66), Villa (booked, 80), Stevens; Harris (booked, 15), Jackson

Referee: Campbell-Kirk Waugh

National League