Stalemate leaves OFC tie in balance
Halfway through their OFC Champions League semifinal, Team Wellington and Auckland City are no closer to knowing who will take a big step towards to a place at the Club World Cup.
They drew 0-0 at David Farrington Park in Wellington in the first leg of the tie yesterday, the second time they have produced a goalless stalemate in their past three meetings - the other was City’s 1-0 win in the national league final three weeks ago.
In not conceding an away goal, Team Wellington will probably be the happier team, heading into next Sunday’s second leg at Kiwitea St in Auckland, but they might rue not taking two gift-wrapped opportunities City offered.
The first came 20 minutes in, when a tame pass from Reid Drake towards City centreback Angel Berlanga was picked up by Angus Kilkolly, who ended up one on one with Enaut Zubikarai, only to send his shot straight at the City keeper.
The second came with 20 minutes to play, when City midfielder Cole Peverley passed the ball to Andy Bevin on the edge of the box, but was spared embarrassment as his Team Wellington opposite sent the ensuing shot wide.
Team Wellington were pushing hard towards the end, but Zubikarai has now gone 1368 minutes without conceding a goal in all competitions.
The hosts couldn’t find a way past him yesterday - a shot from distance from Eric Molloy midway through the first half, which he gathered easily, and a deflected Bevin shot midway through the second half, which he had to tip over the crossbar, were their other efforts on target.
They will now regather themselves and go again a week from now, knowing a penalty shootout awaits if this weekend’s result is repeated. A score draw in Auckland would mean Wellington advance by scoring more away goals.
Nati Hailemariam had been a key figure for Team Wellington in the national league final three weeks ago, operating mainly to the right in an attacking midfield role, and he was again here, often finding pockets of space in which to receive the ball, before turning and running at the City defence.
City coach Ramon Tribulietx appeared to make a tactical move with Hailemariam in mind, utilising Drake, who has played mostly on the right of a midfield three in the Champions League, at left back instead, between centreback Berlanga and usual left back Dan Morgan, who was able to remain slightly more advanced, and was involved in some of City’s best moves as a result.
Drake was often seen tracking Hailemariam into the centre of the field, and if keeping the Team Wellington midfielder quiet was the aim, it would be hard to call the move a success. Whether it remains in place next Sunday remains to be seen.
While the hosts were the stronger side towards the end of the match, it was City who had the better chances in the first half, with Scott Basalaj forced to make the first save of the match 14 minutes in, when Kris Bright headed an Emiliano Tade freekick from the left goalward.
Just after Kilkolly was gifted his golden chance, City received one of their own, when Basalaj played a short pass that was intercepted by Bright, who fed Tade, whose shot was smothered by Basalaj. Tade then hit the right-hand upright with a shot late in the half.
These two sides have now played three incredibly tight matches over the past three months, but next Sunday, something will have to give.
In the first leg of the other semifinal, Marist of the Solomon Islands and Lautoka of Fiji drew 1-1 at Churchill Park, the latter’s home ground, which means Marist hold the advantage heading into the second leg next Sunday.