Team Wellington out to make history
TEAM WELLINGTON can create history this weekend.
In the seven years of the Oceania Champions League, New Zealand has been represented by just two clubs, Auckland City and Waitakere United.
But the Auckland double act is in severe jeopardy this season, with Waitakere trailing 4-0 after the first leg of their national league semifinal against City.
The national league minor premiers earn one of New Zealand’s two tickets to the O-League, with City having that distinction this season.
The second spot goes to the grand final winner, but if that is also City the second-placed team from the round-robin gets the nod.
This season that is Wellington, who hold a 2-1 advantage heading into the second leg of their semifinal against Hawke’s Bay United at David Farrington Park today.
Wellington coach Matt Calcott has avoided O-League talk but acknowledges it is now within touching distance.
‘‘That could be the end result and that would be fantastic,’’ Calcott said.
‘‘It is really important that there’s a real focus, from a young group, that could have an opportunity to create history. But to do that you’ve got to concentrate right until the end. Over the years it’s been Waitak and Auckland and for Hawke’s Bay or Wellington to get there would be great for the league in general. But we’re just hoping it’ll be us, of course.’’
Calcott believed qualifying for the O-League would increase the visibility of the Wellington franchise and help out financially.
‘‘You just never know what it might do in terms of the recruitment and other things. But it’s too early to chat about that, it’s about getting things across the line.’’
Calcott will make two changes to his starting XI, one forced and one not.
Shaun Timmins’ move to the Wellington Phoenix allows the return of Adam Cowan at centre back, while attacking midfielder Cory Chettleburgh is back from suspension in place of Cam Lindsay.
Calcott said his side, which has scored 39 goals in 15 games this season, would attack from the start in a bid to kill off the tie.
‘‘That’s the way that this group goes. They want to attack and that’s exciting for a younger group. There will be periods of the game where we might need to drop off a little bit but nothing will change, we’ll have a right go at them early on and see where we get to. If we have to make some changes tactically then we’ll do that throughout the game.’’