Something has to give for inseparable duo
Come the end of Sunday’s OFC Champions League semifinal, something will have separated Auckland City and Team Wellington, but it’s hard to see what it will be.
The home-and-away tie is locked at 0-0 after the first leg, played at David Farrington Park in the capital last Sunday, leaving all to play for in the second leg, at Kiwitea St in Auckland [kick off
12.30pm] – the winner will be the favourite in the two-legged final, where a place at December’s Club World Cup will be at stake
These two teams have been evenly matched over the past three months, producing a pair of 0-0 draws – the other in the national league’s regular season – and a 1-0 City win, in the national league final.
Another tight match is expected on Sunday, and it wouldn’t be a great surprise if the score remains
0-0 come the end of full time, then extra time, which would mean a penalty shootout.
The first bit of intrigue will be in how City line up, as they continue to chase their eighth continental title in a row.
Coach Ramon Tribulietx opted for a change last Sunday, placing usual midfielder Reid Drake at left back, with usual left back Dan Morgan operating slightly further up the field.
Tribulietx said on Friday the move was made to try to help City play out from the back better, in the face of Team Wellington’s high press: ‘‘It did work at times, but other times it didn’t’’.
Team Wellington coach Jose Figueira said he felt his team adjusted well to the challenge in front of them, as they finished with more possession and more shots on target than in either of the teams’ previous two meetings.
Having kept City out at home, Team Wellington can now benefit from scoring an away goal or two this Sunday – they will advance if the result is a score draw, so if they score once, City will need to score twice, and so on.
The catch is that that means getting the ball past City’s Spanish keeper Enaut Zubikarai, who hasn’t conceded in his past 15 matches in all competitions, and for 1368 minutes in total.
Team Wellington keeper Scott Basalaj was also in fine form last Sunday, making two crucial stops, and it seems it will require something special for either side to break the deadlock – or a momentary defensive lapse.