Waitakere United

Team Wellington

2

0

Benjamin Totori 50
Daniel Koprivcic 63

by Bob Pearce at Douglas Field
nzfc.co.nz

Waitakere United missed more chances than they would like but converted two to beat Wellington 2-0 and move to the top of the league.

It wasn't vintage football but Waitakere striker Benjamin Totori turned on the display of the season as he weaved his magic to unpick the defence, scoring one goal and creating a host of chances.

And he was the centre of what could have been a vital call by an assistant referee that denied the home team a goal in the scoreless first half.

In the 19th minute the young Solomons international jigged past three defenders and fired the ball into the net. But it was ruled out because a Waitakere player was between Totori and goalkeeper Jake Gleeson in an offside position interfering with the keeper's vision.

Totori left no doubt about the opening goal in the 50th minute when he again wrong-footed the defence before scoring and referee Peter O'Leary pointed to the centre spot.

Despite overwhelming second half pressure it wasn't until the 63rd minute that Waitakere made the game safe - ironically while Wellington were down to 10 men.
 
The visitors were without their striker Luis Corrales, who collided with the right upright of the Waitakere goal when trying to reach a cross. Corrales was briefly knocked out and left the game holding his head.
 
Before he could be replaced play swept to the other end where Daniel Koprivcic found himself in the clear. He hesitated on the edge of the penalty area but then fired a shot which goalkeeper Gleeson could only help into the net.
 
Waitakere were dominating the half and there were very makeable chances squandered by Roy Krishna and Paul Seaman.
 
In what was hardly a dirty game referee O'Leary found seven yellow cards to issue. The schoolteacher seemed to be missing the classroom.
 
Waitakere coach Chris Milicich was not worried when the champions hadn't taken the lead in the first half.
 
"I was pretty confident we could take charge," he said. "Benji was superb today. He was back to his best and the interplay between the front three, Totori, Krishna and Koprivcic, was the best I've seen. They were all humming."
 
Wellington coach Stu Jacobs was philosophical about the defeat in a game where his team competed well for 45 minutes but struggled in the second half.
 
"These are always tough fixtures. If you let the Waitakere into space they will really expose you.
 
"I thought that in the first half we might have deserved something. But we tended to clear the ball into areas where they had numbers. When we spread the ball we created a good chance for Luis."
 
Waitakere still have two games in hand over the rest of the NZFC contenders. Their next game is again at home at Douglas Field against Hawkes Bay next Sunday.

Waitakere United

V

Team Wellington

1 Richard Gillespie (GK)

24 Jake Gleeson (GK)

3 Aaron Scott

3 Steve Gulley

4 Tim Myers

5 Michael Eager

8 Paul Seaman (out 70)

8 Peter Howe

9 Benjamin Totori  (out 88)

10 Luis Corrales (ou 73)

12 Roy Krishna

13 Karl Whalen

13 Daniel Koprivcic  (out 70)

22 Adam Birch (out 85)

15 Chris Bale

11 Bryan Little

16 Neil Emblen (Captain)

9 Ross McKenzie

17 Jake Butler

14 Sam Jenkins

20 Jason Rowley

18 Peter Halstead (out 68)

Substitutes

Substitutes

14 Jeff Campbell (in 70)

1 James McPeat (RGK)

21 Kayne Vincent (in 70)

6 Michael Pickering (in 73)

22 Danny Robinson (RGK)

7 Sam Blackburn (in 68)

24 Ash Solly

21 Tim Schaffers (in 85)

27 Jacob Mathews (in 88)

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

Good crowd early for NZ Under 17 v Chile Under 18. Chile won 3-0 after beating NZ 1-0 at North Shore on Friday. NZFC game delayed 10 minutes because of late finish.

 2 mins

Totori shot well saved by goalie

6 mins

Krishna beats marker feeds Koprivcic, who is ridden off ball for goalie to save.

7 mins

Yellow card Jenkins for arm in tackle

9 mins

Jenkins shot just wide.

12 mins

Krishna corner to Totori back to Krishna, blasts wide

16 mins

Powerful shot by Totori just over bar

19 mins

Totori beats three defenders and puts ball in net only for linesman to flag for offside.

23 mins

Gleeson saves well at close range from Seaman.

25 mins

Yellow card for Myers disputing decision

27 mins

Yellow card for Gulley for tackle

33 mins

Krishna shot blocked and Koprivcic pokes rebound wide

36 mins

Yellow for Krishna for shirt pulling

38 mins

Little blows Wellington's first chance with miskick after first corner.

40 mins

Great save by Gleeson from Totori shot.

42 mins

Little fires from long range powerfully but over the top.

45 mins

Halftime whistle with Wellington on attack but still no score.

Discussion at halftime over reason for disallowed goal. Consensus suggests shot went through legs of offside Waitakere player.

48 mins

Seaman miskicks with goal at his mercy.

50 mins

GOAL! Totori jigs his way past three defenders and scores. No flags this time.

58 mins

Corrales collides with upright in desperate attempt to reach cross from right. Pickering replaces him but only after Waitakere score 

63 mins

GOAL! Koprivcic shot only parried into his own net by Gleeson.

68 mins

.

68 mins

Substitution Wellington Blackburn for Halstead

69 mins

Substitutions Waitakere Vincent for Koprivcic, Campbell for Seaman.

74 mins

Yellow McKenzie

75 mins

Two corners by Waitakere well cleared.

80 mins

Yellow card for Butler as ref hits his stride. Watch out Foxie!!

84 mins

Substitution Wellington Schaffers replaces Birch.

88 mins

Substitution Totori replaced by Jake Mathews on debut.

90 plus one

McKenzie just wide from snap shot.

All over and Waitakere move to the top with games in hand.