Team Wellington edge extraordinary semifinal

Team Wellington have advanced to the Stirling Sports Premiership final after a barely believable victory over Waitakere United yesterday.

A ridiculous game ended 4-4 after regular time and 6-6 after extra time, before Team Wellington eventually triumphed 3-2 on penalties.

Niko Kirwan, son of Sir John Kirwan, was the hero, striking the winning penalty after a fittingly hectic shootout. You wouldn’t have predicted such an incredible encounter based on the opening stages, which were comparatively sedate.

It took 33 minutes to open the scoring, with Pascal Reinhardt giving Waitakere the lead. Justin Gulley equalised on halftime for Team Wellington, but Reinhardt headed home to make it 2-1 shortly after the break.

Dan Morgan gave Waitakere a 3-1 lead, but Nicolas Zambrano and Tom Jackson quickly responded for Team Wellington to again tie proceedings.

Morgan’s second put Waitakere back in front with 10 minutes to go, and when Wellington’s Guillermo Moretti received a second yellow card, it looked as if Waitakere would book a spot in the final.

Wellington wouldn’t be denied however, with Jackson slotting home his second penalty of the contest to send the game to extra-time.

There, the goals kept flowing, with Dylan Stansfield immediately putting Team Wellington back in front, but Joel Stevens pegged it back to 5-5 in the 113th minute. Remarkably, with 10 men, Wellington went in front in the dying stages, as Stevens scored a stunner. But Reinhardt got his hattrick in injury time to send the game to penalties.

There, Wellington keeper Scott Basalaj made three saves as both sides struggled to convert from the spot. Gulley had a chance to win it but was his effort was saved, but Scott Hilliar blasted his attempt over the bar, giving Kirwan the chance to win it in sudden death. He calmly tucked away his penalty, becoming the hero as Team Wellington celebrated their trip to the final. They will take on Auckland City on Sunday in a replay of last year’s final.