Waitakere send Team Wellington home with tail between legs

Team Wellington might have talked plenty this week but Waitakere United left their riposte very much for the on field action today, thumping the capital city side 5-0 for a 6-0 aggregate win in the NZFC semi final.

 

Any thoughts that the defending NZFC champions might have been unsettled by the talk of a ‘money advantage’ and accusations of the side being nothing but ‘long ball merchants’ disappeared along with any hopes of a Wellington win.

 

The Danny Hay led ‘westies’ put on a display worthy of the big stage in the NZFC play offs, while Team Wellington were left to lick their wounds on the way back to the Capital and spend yet another off season measuring the distance between the two sides.

 

In perfect conditions and in front of an expectant crowd, Waitakere took an early lead when Fijian striker Roy Krishna beat his marker and drove home with power and accuracy. The tie was now 2-0 in Waitakere’s favour and Wellington looked no chance, the next 85 minutes did nothing to change that impression.

 

After surviving a spell of attack from Wellington with Luis Corrales going close on a couple of occasions, Waitakere calmly doubled their lead with another goal created by quick feet and clever football on the deck, Benjamin Totori this time the architect and finisher as Krishna was earlier.

 

The second half saw Hay rested, Chris Milicich clearly deciding the match was safe and a place in the final assured, as John Chisholm took the field for the second 45 minutes.

 

With their captain in cotton wool in the stands Waitakere scored another 3 goals, albeit the first in the second half came via an Adam Birch own goal. Krishna added another and Jake Butler scored late to inflict an embarrassing 6-0 aggregate defeat on Team Wellington.

 

They will now await the result of tomorrow’s second semi final second leg with YoungHeart Manawatu bringing a 3-1 first leg lead to Auckland City’s Kiwitea Street. But they will have to defend that lead away from home with Raf de Gregorio and Gustavo Saralegui, both are suspended after being sent off in the first leg.

 

Waitakere United 5 (6)

R. Krishna 5 82, B. Totori 43 Own goal 47 J. Butler 87

Team Wellington 0 (0)

 

Sunday

Auckland City (1) v YoungHeart Manawatu (3) Kiwitea Street 2.05pm

 

Playoff Schedule

 

Grand Final

Sunday 29 March

Waitakere United v Auckland City/YoungHeart Manawatu

Douglas Field 2.05pm

(Live on Sky Sports 2)

 

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