Waitakere United

Auckland City

0

1

Daniel Koprivcic 63

by Bob Pearce at Fred Taylor Park, Whenuapai
asbpremiership.co.nz 

WHENUAPAI - Auckland City finished with nine men but brought Waitakere's eight-game ASB Premiership winning run to an end with a 1-0 victory at Fred Taylor Park yesterday.
 
The biggest crowd of the season watched a thrilling encounter between the cross-town rivals, which was decided by a Danko Koprivcic goal in the 63rd minute.

At that stage Auckland had been playing a man short for 44 minutes after captain Ivan Vicelich was red-carded as last defender when he brought down Michael Gwyther in the 19th minute.

Vicelich was last red-carded in a friendly against Jordan. He reckons he has had only three red cards in a 17-year career.
 
With 10 minutes of ordinary time to go it was 10 against 11 when Jack Pelter and Adam Dickinson received second yellows after an incident that saw them scuffling to the displeasure of referee Campbell-Kirk Waugh. Nine yellows and a red were issued before the final whistle.
 
The result leaves Waitakere still five clear of Team Wellington with Auckland a point further back. Next weekend Auckland are at home to Waikato and Waitakere travel to Wellington.
 
In the opening exchanges it was difficult to credit that Waitakere were the dominant force in the league while Auckland had struggled.

Auckland strung together their passes while Waitakere lacked a midfield playmaker and their long-ball approach was easily stifled.
 
Even when they were down to 10 men Auckland looked the more composed team and it took a fine save by Danny Robinson to deny Koprivcic a second.
 
When Waitakere did begin to take advantage of their numerical advantage, Jacob Spoonley, despite a suspected broken finger dominated his penalty area.

When the chances did come they were often created by Roy Krishna but he was among the chief offenders in fluffing the finish.
 
Not only was this Waitakere's first setback of the season, but it was the first defeat for the team and the first defeat for the West Aucklanders at Fred Taylor Park under the coaching of Neil Emblen.
 
Emblen, who has scored on brief cameo appearances this season, came on in the closing stages but couldn't work the miracle this time.
 
"We knew it was going to be tough without Ivan but all our training paid off with our fitness, " said Auckland co-coach Ramon Tribulietx. "I want to congratulate all the players. Because they all played well.
 
"We were dominating possession with 10 players and the players continued to play the game we're trying to play. They're improving week by week."

 
Emblen was keen to see his team put this performance behind them and look forward to the game against Wellington.
 
"We didn't quite click again at home. But well done to Auckland. We've got to take it on the chin.
 
"We're still in pole position and we've got to make sure this has the right effect not a negative effect."

Waitakere United

V

Auckland City

1 Danny Robinson (GK)

1 Jacob Spoonley (GK)

2 Jason Rowley (Emblen 78)

2 Angel Berlanga

3 Aaron Scott

3 Ian Hogg  (Milne 68)

4 Tim Myers

6 Stuart Kelly (Campbell 20)

6 Jack Pelter

7 James Pritchett

8 Chris Bale

8 David Mulligan

10 Allan Pearce

11 Daniel Koprivcic

12 Roy Krishna

13 Alex Feneridis

13 Michael Gwyther

14 Adam Dickinson

17 Jake Butler

15 Ivan Vicelich

19 Dakota Lucas (Sole 54)

23 Adam Thomas (Morgan 61)

Substitutes

Substitutes

16 Neil Emblen (in 78)

4 Sam Campbell (in 20)

18 Zane Sole (in 54)

10 Luis Corrales

21 Anthony Hobbs

12 Paul Gothard (RGK)

23 Ashton Pett

19 Daniel Morgan (in 61)

28 Andy Ralph (RGK)

17 Andrew Milne (in 68)

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

0'-

Welcome to Fred Taylor Park, Whenuapai, home of Waitakere United and venue for this Week 11 ASB Premiership 'Super City' derby between old rivals Waitakere and Auckland City. Plenty to play for today with the home side searching for is ninth consecutive win since the season kicked off back in October while the visitors continue their chase for a play-off spot and the minor premiership.

0 mins

It's hot and sunny so drinks breaks will be in order whatever the ref decides.

0 mins

Luis Corrales is back from Costa Rica and sits on the Auckland bench

0 mins

Jason Rowley starts in place of Ashton Pett for Waitakere

1 min

Waitakere playing towards Kumeu.

2 min

Mulligan chips to Dickinson but goalie just clears under pressure.

5 mins

Freekick to Waitakere on left, free to pearce, centre cleared by goalie

8 mins

throw in to Waitakere on goalline, cross easily gathered

11 mins

Appeal for penalty as Thomas goes down but ref says goalkick

13 mins

Krishna breaks free of marker but shoots into side netting.

15 mins

Nice move by Pearce for Waitakere but offside call. Very close.

17 mins

Ball breaks free to feneridis who tries lang-range shot well saved

18 mins

Koprivcic heads over but no real threat.

19 mins

Gwyther felled on edge of penalty area. RED CARD for Vicelich and freekick to Waitakere on edge of area.

20 mins

Pearce freekick well saved by Spoonley

21 mins

Sub Auckland. Kelly off, Campbell on.

26 mins

Dickinson clear, blocked by Robinson. Great save.

27 mins

Koprivcic flicks on and Robinson produces great save, all in vain it was offside.

30 mins

Yellow card for Pelter clattering Koprivcic

34 mins

Gwyther clear but angle and goalie foil him with good block. Waitakere are beginning to dominate possession.

41

Krishna breaks on left, cross eludes goalie but Pearce blasts wide.

43 mins

Shootout to Stu Munro in Invercargill. Kumeu is where my glass of wine comes from!

44 mins

Dickinson yellow for tackle on Myers.

45 mins

Three mins to be added and the players will be glad of a break.

45 plus one

Mulligan gets yellow for off the ball incident. Ref adamant despite plea of innoncence.

45 plus three

Halftime at 0-0 but it's going to be tough for Auckland with 10 men in the second spell.

46 mins

No changes at the break

47 mins

Pearce tries long-range shot from right over the top.

49 mins

Krishna breaks but ruled offside, close call.50 mins

50 mins

Hogg breaks and Rowley has to concedecorner as Thomas lurks 

51 mins

Corner, diving header from Campbell just wide

52 mins

Yellow card for Pearce tackle

53 mins

Hogg tries to retaliate and gets yellow

54 mins

Sub Zane Sole on for Lucas for Waitakere

55 mins

Krishna finds Bale on edge of area but he fires over the top

61 mins

Aucckland bring Morgan on for Thomas

63 mins

GOAL! Koprivcic and Dickinson play one-two and Koprivcic belts ball in.

69 mins

Bale from long range, just wide. Sub Milne on for injured Hogg.

73 mins

Waitakere break but Bale is offside.

80 mins

All action. Pelter and Dickinson get second yellows after clash and Corrales gets one on the bench. Auckland down to nine against Waitakere's 10

85 mins

Waitakere pressing, earn corner and then foul by Emblen on the goalie

89 mins

Yellow card for Feneridis. Five mins of time to be added.

90 plus one

Two Waitakere freekicks both saved by Spoonley under pressure.

90 plus three

Morgan through but shoots wide unmolested

90 plus five

Final whistle. A famous victory for Auckland's nine men.