Pride lift title in extra time
Canterbury United Pride’s fourth National Women’s Football League title will be a little sweeter than those before it.
Playing in their sixth straight final, they needed extra time to beat the Northern Lights 3-2 at Trusts Arena in Auckland yesterday, capping a season that’s been twice as long as any previously.
A full home-and-away roundrobin was introduced this year, a move long overdue in the eyes of many, and Pride captain Annalie Longo, the competition’s MVP, said it made the win extra special.
‘‘Absolutely winning is winning, but this year it’s been different with the fact that it’s been two rounds.
‘‘The league almost feels a bit more credible and has a bit more weight behind it. I think with the longer season, when you work so hard, now winning it is just that little bit sweeter.
‘‘I’m proud to lead the girls and they just put in a great performance.’’
After Jane Barnett put the Lights ahead six minutes in, Longo took control of the game in midfield for a spell, living up to her reputation as a senior Football Fern.
She scored her side’s equaliser 10 minutes later, then set up an excellent chance for Cody Taylor, who hit the crossbar, before putting the Pride ahead with her second goal half an hour in.
Claudia Bunge pulled the Lights back level five minutes before halftime with a header at a corner, but chances became scarce from there, with the hot Auckland afternoon clearly taking its toll on both teams.
The Lights blew a golden opportunity to go in front in the 71st minute, when fullback Nicole Stratford chose to shoot at the end of a surging run, rather than square it to Dayna Stevens for a tap in, though she did force Vic Esson to make a diving save.
They also came close in stoppage time, when Kate Loye looked to have scored but Stratford, who set her up, was flagged offside in a tight call.
The Pride had looked second best towards the end of normal time and early on in extra time, but remained a threat on the counter, and that was how they found a winner, 12 minutes into the added period.
Gabi Rennie chased down a long ball forward, did well to lose Northern defender Hannah Mackay-Wright down the right, then crossed to substitute Monique Barker, who only had goalkeeper Anna Leat to beat.
Longo joined the Pride six years ago, helping start their run of dominance in the national women’s league, which includes previous titles in 2013, 2014, and 2016.
Last year they were beaten by Auckland at home in the decider, conceding two late goals in extra time, and she said it was great to be on the other side of the ledger this time around.
‘‘We were very disappointed last year, to have gone up, then let it slip away in that last five minutes.
‘‘Today I turned to the girls and said we need to rewrite this, so the girls dug really deep and I couldn’t be more proud, the effort you saw from every single one of them was outstanding.’’