Auckland City

Hawke's Bay United

3

2

 Chad COOMBES 52'
David MULLIGAN 70'
Luis CORRALES 80'

Conor TINNION 32 secs
Tom BISS 88'-pen

by Bob Pearce at Kiwitea St
asbpremiership.co.nz

AUCKLAND - Auckland City clinched the ASB Premiership minor championship with a 3-2 victory over Hawke's Bay United at Kiwitea St. But they had to come from behind to win.
 
The Bay shocked the league leaders with a goal after 32 seconds. They snaffled a misplaced pass and needed only four touches before the impressive Conor Tinnion rifled an unstoppable shot from 25 metres into the top of the net.
 
With a perfectly carried out tactic of challenging the home side in their own half, the visitors held on to their lead until halftime, helped by a brilliant tip over by goalie Shaun Peta from a Mulligan freekick.

Anxious fans at Kiwitea were not shifted from the edge of their seats until the 52nd minute when Chad Coombes, who had a couple of near misses earlier,finally fastened on to a cross from Adam Dickinson and made it 1-1.

Bay were still very much in contention and defender Bill Robertson came within a thick lace of prodding home a flick by Leon Birnie from a Tinnion freekick in the 60th minute. Five minutes later Birnie was close with a header from another freekick.

Auckland City produced the move of the game for their second goal in the 70th minute. Mulligan and substitute Luis Corrales played a double one-two on the right of the penalty area and a defender’s attempted clearance delivered the ball back to Mulligan for a clinical finish.
 
Ten minutes later as Bay pushed forward for an equaliser Danko Koprivcic, another substitute, found Corrales with a defence-splitting pass and the Costa Rican lobbed the ball expertly over Peta.
 
Again the Bay wouldn’t lie down. In the 87th minute a goalmouth scramble saw a Hamish Watson header blocked on the line by Mulligan. Referee Nick Waldron ruled hand ball and red-carded Mulligan. Tom Biss buried the penalty for 3-2.
 
There was even a chance of a dream finish for the Bay in time added on but Stu Wilson sliced the volley that would have levelled the score.
 
Auckland coach Ramon Tribulietx paid tribute to Hawke's Bay as “tactically one of the best teams we’ve played.”
 
“They were very aggressive defensively but we still created situations which we didn’t finish off. Credit to the players for coming back from 1-0 down to earn the minor premiership. From now on the games just get harder.”
 
Chris Greatholder, the Hawkes Bay coach, had mixed emotions after seeing the chance of a place in the playoffs diminished.
 
“I’m a bit bitter because I thought we could have got something from the game,” he said. “They’re very good at what they do. In the first half they probably had more possession but we played them high and that possession was mostly in their own half.

“We did the same thing when they came to Napier and we didn’t get what we deserved. Still I’m pretty proud of the boys because they didn’t get their heads down when we went 3-1 behind.”
 
Auckland City fans were happy to see their team maintain their unbeaten record but a little miffed that the next home game is not likely to be before a return semifinal on April 22.

They head for Papua New Guinea next week to play Hekari United in an O-League clash from which one point will assure a Grand Final place.
 

Auckland City

V

Hawke's Bay United

12- Tamati WILLIAMS (GK)

1- Shaun PETA (GK)

5- Angel BERLANGA

2- Fergus NEIL

6- Chad COOMBES

4- Stu WILSON

8- David MULLIGAN

5- Bill ROBERTSON (c)

9- Manel EXPOSITO

7- Matt HASTINGS (O'MEAGHER 82')

14- Adam DICKINSON

8- Adam COWAN

15- Ivan VICELICH (c)

10- Sam MARGETTS (WATSON 72')

16- Albert RIERA

11- Conor TINNION

21- Ivan DIAZ (CORRALES 69')

14- Danny WILSON

22- Andrew MILNE (KORPVICIC 64')

17- Tom BISS

23- Simon ARMS

20- Leon BIRNIE (HIGHAM 77')

Substitutes

Substitutes

18- Liam ANDERSON (GK)

26- Richard GILLESPIE (GK)

7- James PRITCHETT

6- Dale HIGHAM (BIRNIE 77')

10- Luis CORRALES (DIAZ 69')

16- Reilly O'MEAGHER (HASTINGS 82')

11- Daniel KOPRIVCIC (MILNE 64')

18- Hamish WATSON (MARGETTS 72')

19- Iwa SHAKER

22- Luke CHAPMAN

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

0'-

GOAL! 32 seconds and its 1-0 to Hawke's Bay United after Conor TINNION hits a 25-yard belter beyond Tamati WILLIAMS!

5'-

What a shock start here at Kiwitea Street - Auckland City have responded by grabbing the lionshare of possession. They have a corner.

6'-

Angel BERLANGA crashes a header over the crossbar from a David MULLIGAN corner.

8'-

Let's not forget this is a massive match for Hawke's Bay today - they can cut Team Wellington's lead to one point if the capital men lose to Waitakere and this scoreline remains the same. Long way to go yet.

10'-

Ivan VICELICH long ball gathered by Shaun PETA.

11'-

Tom BISS cross collected by Tamati WILLIAMS.

12 mins

Auckland are gradually recovering from the shock goal but so far no penetration

13 mins

Looping cross by Milne, but freekick ater push in penalty aea.

15 mins

Bay pressing again but thwarted a corner

16mins

New boy Diaz showing creative touch in midfield

18 mins

First corner for Bay well cleared

19 mins

Big Bill Robertson gets a finge wagging from ref for tackle

21 mins

Bay are swarming all over Auckland and the lead leaders are under siege.

23 mins

Exposito jinks his way past two defenders but cross blocked

28 mins

Good move by Auckland sees Coombes final bullet shot wide.

30 mins

Pass puts Coombes through but shot a fizzer.

31 mins

Freekick just outside area fo Auckland, Mulligan to take, tipped over bar by Peta

34 mins

Yellow card Cowan after late charge on Vicelich

37 mins

Riera tries a sneaky shot but just wide. Following cross unmolested by anyone.

40 mins

Corner for Auckland on right, Mulliga takes, Peta catches.

41 mins

Clearance comes to Coombes, who gets yellow for tackle

42 mins

Dickinson shot on target but brilliantly headed away by Danny Wilson

44 mins

Yellow card Vicelich on edge of area, Tinnion freekick just wide.

45 mins

Freekick to Auckland wasted, halftime whistle blows. Bay fully deserve teir lead for a 45-minute full court press on Auckland's passing gme.

Halftime

Auckland City 0-1 Hawke's Bay United

46'-

We're back underway with no changes to either side.

47'-

Bill Robertson nicks the ball off Manel Exposito and is fouled. Free kick Hawke's Bay United.

50'-

Eight pass move by Auckland City results in David Mulligan firing over the bar.

51'-

Close control and shot by Diaz.

52'-

Angel Berlanga shot from an Adam Dickinson cross blocked by Bill Robertson.

52'-

GOAL! Chad Coombes blasts home a wonderful header from a Dickinsonc ross - scores are level!

56'-

Hawke's Bay were stretched for that goal and Auckland City are in control - Diaz cross to the near post caught by Shaun Peta.

59'-

Free kick for Hawke's Bay United deep in Auckland territory.

62'-

Yellow card for Albert Riera.

63'-

Conor Tinnion free kick headed at Williams by Leon Birnie. Saved.

66'-

Adam Dickinson goes on a solo run but can't breach the Bay defence.

68'-

Chad Coombes shrugs off Bill Robertson with ease but slices the shot narrowly wide.

69'-

Substitution - Ivan Diaz replaced by Luiz Corrales.

70'-

GOAL! David Mulligan slams home an unstoppable shot to complete his comeback! Great work in the build-up by Luis Corrales.

72'-

Substitution Sam Margetts replaced by Hamish Watson.

75'-

The minor premiership swings back into view for Auckland City while Hawke's Bay's playoff hopes have started to slip away. Should be a great finish.

80'-

GOAL! Luis Corrales lobs Shaun Peta and doubles the lead for Auckland City!

82'-

Free kick for Auckland City in the 'D'.

82'-

David Mulligan free kick goes wide.

82'-

Substitution Matt Hastings replaced by Reilly O'Meagher.

87'-

Red card David Mulligan sent off for deliberate hand ball.

88'-

GOAL! Tom Biss sends Tamati Williams the wrong way.

90'+3

Hawke's Bay United spurn a decent chance to level the scores.

90'+4

Referee brings the match to an end.

Fulltime

Auckland City 3-2 Hawke's Bay United.