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Rd 01
Auckland Adds Oceania Title To NZ And NPWL Crowns
by Jeremy Ruane
Auckland United clinched the OFC Women's Champions League crown in Honiara on March 23, overcoming Hekari United 1-0 in the final to become the first New Zealand team to claim the region's crown.
It was a tough gig for Ben Bate and his young squad, a handful of whom are still at school. They found themselves up against opponents who were effectively shadow national teams, not to mention the tropical climes in which they were playing, so to come home with the trophy in hand is no small beer.
A measure of how challenging things would be for Auckland was revealed in their opening group match, played in a tropical downpour. Labasa held United to a 1-1 draw, Bree Johnson's goal just after the hour mark matched by a penalty eleven minutes from time, Vanisha Kumar doing the honours for the Fijian champions.
That result meant Auckland had to win their last two group games to reach the semi-finals, the first of which saw them take on reigning champions AS Academy Femenin, from New Caledonia.
The title-holders were put to the sword by a rampant Auckland, Rene Wasi leading the way with a hat-trick as New Zealand's champions stormed to a 5-0 win, her first goal coming just five minutes into play.
Alice Wenessia hit the crossbar with a free-kick twenty minutes later as AS looked to get back on level terms, to which United responded on the stroke of half-time through Wasi, who claimed the match ball nine minutes into the second half to ensure there was no way back for the title-holders.
Late strikes from Penny Brill and new Auckland signing Charlotte Roche, who twice hit the post earlier in the half, confirmed the emphatic victory and set United up for a first-placed group finish, a position confirmed via a 1-0 win over Veitongo in their final pool match.
Poppy O'Brien's goal secured victory over the stubborn Tongan representatives, with Pia Vlok hitting the post as Auckland set themselves up for a semi-final showdown with Tafea, a match which required an extra time winner to secured United's passage to Saturday's final.
Captain Talisha Green headed Auckland in front after just ten minutes, but the Vanuatu champions resisted their opponents' repeated attempts to increase their lead, and they were rewarded eight minutes from time courtesy a goal of the tournament contender from Liyao Emarol.
The tournament's Golden Boot winner, Jane Alatoa, came close to winning it for Tafea in the shadows of the full-time whistle, but it was United who would break the deadlock in decisive fashion, Danielle Canham's 105th minute strike securing a 2-1 win and a showdown with the Papua New Guinea champions.
Hekari were eager to improve on last year's runners-up spot in the inaugural OFC Women's Champions League, a tournament which was hosted in their homeland, and which didn't feature a New Zealand participant, Eastern Suburbs - rightly or wrongly - opting not to contest the event.
So Auckland were bidding to become the first Kiwi champions in this fledgling competition, and Johnson's 25th minute strike ultimately earned them that honour, although Hekari hit the post in their attempts to draw level.
Golden Ball winner Talisha Green held the trophy aloft after the final whistle for the team which also claimed the Fair Play award, and in Amberley Hollis boasted the Golden Glove winner of an event which, in 2025, will see the victors participate in the inaugural FIFA Women's Club World Cup Finals, a tournament New Zealand should be looking to host going forward.
Details:
Labasa 1 (V. Kumar (79 pen)), Auckland United 1 (B. Johnson (63)) HT 0-1
AS Academy 0, Auckland United 5 (R. Wasi (4, 45, 54), P. Brill (88), C. Roche (90)) HT 0-2
Veitongo 0, Auckland United 1 (P. O'Brien (29)) HT 0-1
Tafea 1 (L. Eramol (82)), Auckland United 2 (T. Green (10), D. Canham (105)) aet HT 0-1 FT 1-1
Hekari United 0, Auckland United 1 (B. Johnson (25)) HT 0-1
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Auckland's involvement in Oceania's competition meant their opening round fixture against Hibiscus Coast in the Lotto Northern Premier Women's League for 2024 has been put back a month.
The other three matches took place, and saw two upsets unfold, if you were basing the outcomes on last season's achievements. Kate Sheppard Cup winners Western Springs were first to come a cropper, West Coast Rangers coming from behind to down "The Hoops" 3-1 under the Fred Taylor Park floodlights on Friday evening.
Springs have effectively lost their entire attack from a 2023 campaign which was as renowned for their off-field actions as it was for their on-field endeavours. Losing players of the calibre of Sofia Garcia, Ela Jerez, Lara Colpi and Sammi Tawharu would affect any team, and while Rina Hirano's return aids the cause, there can be no denying that Springs are a side in transition this season.
The Japanese schemer marked her return to the fold with the opening goal of the game eight minutes before half-time, but Luci Hollister had the home team on level terms before the interval, after which new signing Shannon Henson - recruited from Auckland along with Maisy Dewell - and Cat Smith clinched the points for Rangers with goals in a nine-minute spell around halfway through the second half.
At Korikori Park, the under-new-management Eastern Suburbs hammered Hamilton Wanderers 5-1, marking a solid start to Katie Duncan's tenure as gaffer. The contest was effectively over inside the first quarter of the match, during which time captain Kenya Brooke and Zoe Benson scored for "The Lilywhites".
Saki Yoshida made it three before half-time, while further goals from Shion Hwang - one of a handful of acquisitions made by the visitors - and Benson sandwiched a Stella Neems effort for Hamilton, whose young team found Suburbs' all-round experience too much on opening day.
So to the other on-paper upset, which took place in the Panmure Bridge derby thanks to Louise Turley's last-minute penalty at the completely revamped Riverhills Park which earned newly promoted Fencibles United a well-deserved 1-0 win over Ellerslie.
The beaten side have lost the services of Britney Cunningham-Lee, who has opted to play closer to home at Championship side Franklin United this season. Yet the team which finished bottom of last season's National Women's League haven't yet adjusted their style of play to accommodate this significant change to their forward line, as "The Ponies" have not replaced last season's Golden Boot winner.
As a consequence, there's a disjointedness about Ellerslie's game at this stage of the campaign, which contrasts starkly with Fencibles' fluidity and youthful exuberance. United were denied three goals by correct offside calls in this contest, while Hayley Miller rattled the crossbar as Olivia Brown, Millie Loxton and Zoe Brazier led the way to an impressive first-up win by the Championship champions.
The Easter weekend schedule kicks off on Thursday evening as Ellerslie entertains Auckland at Michaels Avenue from 7pm. There are two games on Good Friday, with Springs and Suburbs locking horns in a 1pm affair at Seddon Fields, while "The Coasters" and Rangers square off on the North Harbour Stadium Tigerturf from 7.30pm. And at 1pm on Easter Sunday, Hamilton take on Fencibles at Porritt Stadium.
Lotto Northern Women's Championship action kicks off on the first weekend in April, while Central Region action kicks off this weekend with the first round of Kelly Cup ties. Meantime, have a Happy Easter!
Details:
Auckland United v Hibiscus Coast - postponed
Fencibles United 1 (L. Turley (90 pen)), Ellerslie 0 HT 0-0
Hamilton Wanderers 1 (S. Neems (79)), Eastern Suburbs 5 (K. Brooke (10), Z. Benson (21, 87), S. Yoshida (36), S. Hwang (66)) HT 0-3
West Coast Rangers 3 (L. Hollister (43), S. Henson (64), C. Smith (73)), Western Springs 1 (R. Hirano (37)) HT 1-1
PS Just a reminder that there will be minimal match reports produced this season and next, as the compilation of the written history of NZ women's football takes priority. Weekly round reviews will continue, however.
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