Waitakere United

Auckland City

1

1

Tim Myers 70

Chad Coombes 53

by Bob Pearce at Fred Taylor Park
nzfc.co.nz

Auckland City and Waitakere United battled out a 1-1 draw at Fred Taylor Park that left Auckland still top of the league on goal difference but with two games in hand over their cross-town rivals.

Both sides could take some comfort from the result: Waitakere couldn't afford to lose. Auckland were happy to retain their unbeaten record with only four goals conceded.

Both teams are likely to qualify for the playoffs. But Auckland are in the box seat to top the league and earn an automatic spot in next season's O-League.

The crowd of 2238 fans on a scorching hot day were treated to some quality football on a ground that was in immaculate order.

But nobody could have been happy about the quality of the finishing by either side.

The first half was scoreless despite several decent chances.

Auckland midfielder Adam McGeorge managed to bounce a long-range shot off the crossbar after 10 minutes and Brent Fisher laid on a perfect pass for Allan Pearce seven minutes later but the unmarked Waitakere striker headed wide.

Chad Coombes had a good chance to put the visitors ahead when Grant Young headed the ball into his path with the goal at his mercy but his shot hit the upright and stayed out.

The deadlock was broken in the 53rd minute. Ian Hogg made good ground out wide and Coombes headed home - his first goal in the NZFC this season.

Waitakere's equaliser came in the 70th minute after a period of intense pressure. Auckland failed to clear a left-wing corner and after several players had flailed at the loose ball, Tim Myers got the decisive touch.

Waitakere ramped up the pressure and they were on top over the closing stages but despite plenty of magic from Benjamin Totori, who left a string of defenders in his wake, the finish wasn't there.

Perhaps the best chance came in the 82nd minute when Totori crossed from the left but substitute Ryan de Vries couldn't finish the job from 3 metres out.

"It was a really good tight game," said Auckland coach Paul Posa.

"They're a very good team and they raised their game from last week."

"Both teams played well and had periods of dominance but neither could afford to lose and I think that was reflected in the way they played.

I think we can still play better but I can have no complaints about the result."

Waitakere player-coach Neil Emblen, without the injured All White Aaron Scott in his defence, was a tower of strength flanked by youngsters Myers and Jack Pelter.

He felt his team were unlucky not to snatch the points.

"I thought we were really unlucky at the end," he said. "In the last 20 minutes we had four clear chances to win the game.

"For 20 minutes when Auckland scored they were superb, but I thought we dominated after we equalised."
 

Next weekend Waitakere are at home to Otago, while Auckland travel to Ngaruawahia to play Waikato.

Waitakere United

V

Auckland City

1 Danny Robinson (GK)

1 Jacob Spoonley (GK)

4 Tim Myers

3 Ian Hogg

7 Martin Bullock

5 Matt Williams

8 Brent Fisher

6 Ki-Hyung Lee

9 Benjamin Totori

7 James Pritchett

10 Allan Pearce

8 Chad Coombes

11 Neil Sykes

10 Grant Young (64 Dickinson)

12 Roy Krishna

15 Ivan Vicelich

16 Neil Emblen

16 Jason Hayne

17 Jake Butler

17 Adam McGeorge

21 Jack Pelter

20 Greg Uhlmann

Substitutes

Substitutes

2 Jason Rowley

4 Sam Campbell

18 Zane Sole

9 Paul Urlovic

19 Dakota Lucas

18 Paul Gothard

20 Ryan de Vries

23 Adam Dickinson

22 Liam Little (RGK)

28 Daniel Morgan

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

0 mins

Beautiful sunny day, hot with a light southerly. Fred Taylor Park in great order with a good sole of grass despite the dry weather

Auckland start Grant Young in place of Koprivcic who's injured. Waitakere have Pelter in place of injured Aaron Scott. Myers moves to fullback

1 min

Auckland kick off into slight southerly

2 mins

Long ball finds Hogg on left but defused by Robinson

4 mins

Uhlmann weak header puts Spoonley under pressure and he makes good save as Totori nips in

5 mins

First Waitakere cornerwasted

6 mins

Totori penalty shout waved away.

7 mins

Weak Krishna shot from long range. Waitakere making all the running while Auckland look nervous

9 mins

Freekick to Aucckland 30 metres out.Easily cleared.

10 mins

McGeorge shoots from 30 metres bounces off crossbar.

12 mins

Hayne breaks free but outnumbers and chance fizzles

13 mins

Young makes space but flubs shot. pelter showing strength to harry veteran

15 mins

Left wing corner for Waitakere sails across goal with nobody home

17 mins

Good work by Fisher lays on header for Pearce. Straight into keeper's arms

20 mins

Auckland struggling to string pases together as Waitakere tackle back and counter quickly

21 mins

Water break for teams. Red wine for the reporter well earned!

22 mins

Pelter down with injured shoulder, restored

24 mins

McGeorge again from long range but well off target

26 mins

league commissioner Glyn Taylor     keeping eye on play, growling like a tiger

28 mins

Poor corner from Auckland, no snap to their attack

29 mins

Combes shoots on angle and Robinson stretched to save.

30 mins

Left wing corner scrambled clear by Waitakere

32 mins

Good run by Totori, shot by Pearce deflected wide

33 mins

Corner cleared behind again. Second corner snatched by Spoonley

36 mins

Foul by Uhlmann on Totori on edge of area. Freekick by Pearce straight at goalie

37 mins

Right wing corner for Auckland. Vicelich penalised for push

38 mins

Young header finds Combes whose shot beats goalie but rebounds clear off upright.

40 mins

Miscued cross by hayne handled by Fisher freekick by Lee well saved by Robinson

42 mins

Young breaks but crosses poorly

44 mins

Three minutes added on

45 plus

Krishna runs on goal brought down by Uhlmann who gets yellow card.

45 plus three

Sykes freekick blocked by wall halftime 0-0. Waitakere have had more chances but Combes shot off post nearest to score.

It's getting very hot and mistakes are going to be made. With Totori and Krishna darting around it will be interesting to see whether Auckland keep Uhlmann on with one yellow and the threat of another.

46 mins

Uhlmann still on. No changes either side.

47 mins

Krishna wins corner. Pearce swings it over bar

49 mins

Young breaks but Emblen wins battle of the older men.

51 mins

Cross by Pritchett, diving header by Williams no problem to goalie

53 mins

GOAL! Cross from left by Hogg, headed in by Coombes

54 mins

Yellow card Pearce for illegal tackle

55 mins

Hayne through but robbed by Sykes.

59 mins

Krishna finds Butler but shot just wide

63 mins

Krishna jiggles ball off defence but shoots wide

64 mins

Sub Dickinson on for Young

65 mins

Vicelich yellow for foul on Krishna

66 mins

Drinks break

69 mins

Emblen drifts forward, shot touched over bar

70 mins

GOAL! Corner skirmish Tim Myers gets final touch after several miskicks

72 mins

Hayne to Coombes, well saved by Robinson

77 mins

De Vries on for Krishna, Morgan on for Coombes

78 mins

Freekick by Pearce header over top by Pelter

82 mins

Totori bedazzles defence, crosses perfectly and de Vries misses from three metres

83 mins

Hopeful Haynes shot sails over bar

86 mins

Totori dazzles defence but shoots limply wide.

88 mins

Chance for Fisher but ball rolls tantalisingly wide

89 mins

Sykes cross Myers lunges but just fails to connect

Lucas on for Totori

90 mins

Three minutes time added

90+3

Fulltime: 1-1. Auckland stay top on goal difference.