McCowatt wins it late for Auckland City
A Callum McCowatt goal in the final 10 minutes has handed Auckland City a record seventh national men’s football title.
The 18-year-old’s 84th minute strike gave his side a 1-0 win over Team Wellington in yesterday’s ISPS Handa Premiership final at QBE Stadium in Auckland.
It meant defending champions Team Wellington did not go home with the third title in a row they so desired, but they were not hard done by.
City simply fashioned the better chances in a game that had few of them, but was a hard-fought contest. To borrow a metaphor from yesterday’s Joshua-Parker fight, this felt like a match where both sides set out intent on still being there to throw punches come the 12th round.
City coach Ramon Tribulietx opted for a surprise with his selection, giving veteran All White Kris Bright his first start since the opening weekend of the season, with Micah Lea’alafa only on the bench.
It quickly emerged that a key battle was going to be down the flanks, where City had a pair of attacking fullbacks - Dan Morgan on the left and Darren White on the right - up against Team Wellington’s wingbacks - Jack-Henry Sinclair and Eric Molloy, who are known for their attacking more than their defending, and like to stay high up the pitch.
City began to win that battle, with both White and Morgan getting in behind on numerous occasions, but it took a while for them to create anything clear cut. Morgan played a tantalising cross in from the left in the 16th minute, but a stretching Bright couldn’t get a toe to it.
In the 32nd minute, Emiliano Tade received the ball on the left of the area and cut inside past Justin Gulley, only to have his shot blocked by Scott Hilliar - City’s best chance of the first half.
Team Wellington’s best chance of the first half came in its final minute, when a break sparked by Nati Hailemariam reached Ross Allen on the left, who fed Molloy, only for the Irishman to send his attempt well over the bar.
Things remained cagey as the second half began, and as the hour mark passed, Tade had an excellent chance at the back post at a corner, forcing the first save of the match from Scott Basalaj in Team Wellington’s goal.
Team Wellington coach Jose Figueira went to his bench and brought on Angus Kilkolly for Sinclair wide on the right.
The substitute immediately had a good penalty shout, when he was bundled over by Angel Berlanga in the box, but nothing eventuated.
Bright’s day ended after 69 minutes, as did Fabrizio Tavano’s, with Solomon Islands speedster Lea’alafa and Mario Bilen coming on in their place.
The changes gave City an attacking trio that weren’t playing together for the first time in nearly six months, and while they’d already begun to impose themselves, their grip on the game grew tighter as it entered the final 10 minutes of regulation time.
Both sides did well to deny each other when they had back-to-back chances as the clock ticked past 80 minutes, with Nati Hailemariam for Team Wellington going closer, having a shot blocked at close range.
Then, in the 84th minute, Cam Howieson led a break for City, and found McCowatt to his right, with the youngster making no mistake, firing across Basalaj and into the back of the net, a strike that made him the first winner of the Steve Sumner Trophy as the player of the final.
City keeper Enaut Zubikarai didn’t have to make a save until the 90th minute, when he calmly claimed a softly hit freekick.
Zubikarai has now gone 1188 minutes without conceding in all competitions.