TW hit by ‘sucker punch’
Team Wellington may have scored 83 goals in 25 games heading into the first leg of the OFC Champions League final yesterday, but they came up empty when it mattered most.
Kept scoreless for the first time in 19 games, they also conceded three to Auckland City at Kiwitea St, one of which came right at the death.
That late ‘‘sucker punch,’’ as coach Jose Figueira put it, means they will have to win by four at Dave Farrington Park next Sunday to add the continental title to their domestic one, or win 3-0 then prevail on penalties.
Both of those are hard asks, but if anyone is capable of doing it, it is Team Wellington, who have averaged 3.3 goals per game this season, and 4.2 per game across their last 12 matches.
City grabbed a 2-0 lead inside half an hour, but could have easily had three or four, as they took an unusually direct approach that seemed to pay dividends.
Portuguese striker Joao Moreira caused Team Wellington’s skipper Bill Robertson all sorts of problems early on, winning a penalty after picking his pocket, which was converted in the 20th minute, then adding another after avoiding a challenge in the 28th.
Team Wellington did have some promising moments themselves, especially when they were able to get wingbacks Josh Margetts and Joel Stevens into dangerous areas down the flanks.
Up 2-0, City were content to let Team Wellington have the ball, and sat back in the second half, keeping their mostly-aerial onslaught at bay with ease, then striking late to make it 3-0 at the halfway point of the tie.
But while that goal, scored by Ryan de Vries, has made Team Wellington’s task harder, they will head home believing that a miracle could yet happen.
‘‘I’ve just said to the boys, we’ve climbed some mountains before this season - they were feeling the same feelings they were in the league semifinal,’’ said Figueira, referring to the game where they trailed Waitakere United four times before winning on penalties.
‘‘We’ve got it in ourselves to do it at home with our great support behind us.’’
Figueira also praised goalkeeper Scott Basalaj, who compensated for conceding the first-half penalty by saving one in the second, and also made several other great stops.
‘‘You need your big players in the box at both ends, and today was Scott’s day. he stepped up in some really important moments for us.’’