Grand Final 2018

The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website | home

Grand Final 2018

Auckland Claim Record Seventh National Crown

by Jeremy Ruane

Auckland City claimed a record seventh National League title on Easter Sunday, edging Team Wellington 1-0 at QBE Stadium in a cagey and very tactical ISPS Handa Premiership Grand Final, which was played in front of 2,196 fans.

A decidedly cagey first half saw Auckland on top early, culminating in a fifteenth minute raid inspired by Angel Berlanga's ball forward to Emiliano Tade. He laid the ball into the path of Daniel Morgan, whose teasing cross arced across the edge of the six-yard box and the bows of the incoming Kris Bright, a surprise starter in navy blue.

It was a Berlanga error which gave Wellington their first opening two minutes later. Andy Bevin was the beneficiary, but after beating an opponent he was unable to pick out a team-mate with his cross, which zoomed across the goalmouth and out of play for a throw-in.

That sparked the title-holders' best spell of the half, but chances continued to be few and far between - it seemed that an individual error or a sending-off would be necessary to unlock the door in this contest.

Just after the half-hour mark, Auckland carved out three openings in seven minutes, each of which threatened to break the deadlock. Cameron Howieson's 32nd minute ball forward for Tade saw the Golden Boot winner cleverly flick the ball inside Justin Gulley, only for Scott Hilliar to block the subsequent shot on the edge of the goal area.

Three minutes later, a quick throw-in released Howieson down the left, from where he picked out Bright with a cross. The striker's looping ten yard header gave Scott Basalaj scant cause for concern, although he was far more agitated when Howieson and Morgan combined with Bright to set up Tade for a shot on the turn which sizzled a yard over the bar.

Right on half-time, a rare Albert Riera error allowed Wellington to launch a counter-attack. The ball was worked to Ross Allen on the left, who played the ball inside to Eric Molloy. The Irishman's wild finish was waved away by Enaut Zubikarai to end another half of football in which he hadn't conceded a goal.

It was another City error - this time by Tade on the half-way line - which presented Wellington with the first chance of the second half. Bevin was the beneficiary, scooting downfield before sliding a pass into the stride of Jack-Henry Sinclair. Berlanga had shadowed his run, however, and was on hand to block the 55th minute shot to safety.

Four minutes later, Berlanga broke up a Wellington raid and powered out of his own half deep into Wellington, working a one-two with Callum McCowatt en route. The youngster raced forward in support of his captain, and was duly rewarded with a pass which invited him to pick out either Bright or Tade in the area. But the covering figure of Roy Kayara blocked his cross to safety.

From Morgan's resulting corner, Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi flicked the ball on beyond the far post, where Tade forced Basalaj into producing the first save of this largely sterile Grand Final, the 'keeper blocking Riera's header at the near post.

Immediately, Wellington launched a counter-attack which foundered on Hudson-Wihongi, whose timely tackle denied Allen as he looked to turn and shoot

ten yards out from goal. Moments later, substitute Angus Kilkolly's bid for a penalty fell on deaf ears as he went down under the challenge of Morgan in the area.

Sixteen minutes from time, Hudson-Wihongi released substitute Micah Lea'alafa on the right. His pace took him past an opponent before he looked to set up Tade, whose first touch let him down at the worst possible moment, with just Basalaj to beat.

Five minutes later, Nathaniel Hailemariam and Kilkolly combined down the right, with the latter whipping in a low cross for Allen. He laid the ball back into the path of Hailemariam, whose first shot was blocked by Hudson-Wihongi and his second by Darren White, as City strove to maintain their amazing defensive record, which stood at 1098 minutes without conceding going into this encounter.

With extra-time looming large on the horizon, City stepped things up. A Tade free-kick wasn't cleared, allowing Lea'alafa to let fly from the edge of the'D'. Basalaj turned his shot round the post, then combined with Scott Hilliar to prevent Morgan from heading home Tade's resulting corner.

The subsequent delivery resulted in a goal-kick, but from it, the deadlock was finally broken. Howieson latched onto a loose ball and surged downfield before feeding McCowatt, up in support on the right. As he raced into the penalty area, he thrashed an angled shot across Basalaj and just inside the far post to give Auckland the lead six minutes from time.

Now the pressure was right on the reigning champions, whose grip on the trophy was fast slipping. They were caught on the counter-attack two minutes from time when Mario Bilen broke up an attack and fed McCowatt, who had Lea'alafa in support.

The youngster, soon to be announced as the inaugural winner of the Steve Sumner Trophy as the ISPS Handa Premiership Grand Final's MVP, cut in past a defender before looking to set up Tade, who evaded a challenge but was foiled by a ricochet which favoured Basalaj.

Wellington's best chance to equalise fell to Kayara in stoppage time, but he directed his twenty-five yard free-kick straight at the hitherto untested Zubikarai, who promoted a City counter-attack which culminated in Basalaj saving well with his legs to deny Lea'alafa.

Tade brilliantly beat three players on the left before curling a shot past the far post deep in stoppage time, so deep that it proved to be the last kick of the game, much to the undisguised delight of the "Navy Blues", who, in winning this match, became the most successful club in the history of the National League in New Zealand - a record seventh triumph, surpassing the six-title hauls of both Christchurch United and Mt. Wellington.

Auckland: Zubikarai (booked, 90); White, Hudson-Wihongi, Berlanga, Morgan; Tavano (Bilen, 69), Riera, Howieson; McCowatt, Bright (Lea'alafa, 69), Tade (booked, 47)

Wellington: Basalaj; Gulley (booked, 90), Hilliar (booked, 80), Kayara; Ilich, Barcia (Watson, 88), Bevin, Hailemariam; Sinclair (Kilkolly, 62), Allen, Molloy

Referee: Campbell-Kirk Waugh

National League