Soccer: Vicelich is Central figure as neighbours face off

Ivan Vicelich (right), celebrating Auckland City's NZ Football Championship win over Waitakere United with Paul Urlovic, can play for Central United in today's Chatham Cup-tie. Photo / Richard Robinson

Tomorrow's fourth-round clash between Waitakere City and Central United at Fred Taylor Park rekindles the greatest Chatham Cup rivalry of the past 15 years.

Between them the clubs have won seven of the past 15 finals. Each has lost two finals in the same period. Despite their sometimes fractious relationship, the pair have never met in a final.

Waitakere's three triumphs came in a three-peat from 1994 - one of only three clubs to achieve the feat. Their last final appearance was five years ago, beaten 1-0 by Miramar Rangers.

Central followed Waitakere as Cup-winners in 1997 and defended in 1998, 5-0 over Dunedin Technical who beat Waitakere 4-0 in 1999.

There has never been any love lost between the clubs - or in their New Zealand Football Championship strips as Auckland City and Waitakere United. Tomorrow's game promises more of the same.

As City and United, they last clashed in the O-League group decider at The Trusts Stadium in April. City won a spiteful match (two red, eight yellow cards) 3-1. It took only 20 minutes for City's Greg Uhlmann to lash out at Waitakere striker Roy Krishna and spark a melee.

Uhlmann is expected to line up for Central tomorrow but no decision has been made whether Krishna, back from trials with A-League club North Queensland Fury, will play.

The match holds special significance for Central defender Ivan Vicelich. He will play his first Chatham Cup tie in more than a decade.

Vicelich led City in the NZFC after seven seasons in the Dutch League and has savoured Cup success with both Waitakere and Central.

He won with Waitakere in 1994 and with Central three years later. Both times he won the Jack Batty Memorial Trophy as player of the final. Vicelich was also in Central's winning 1998 side.

"The Chatham Cup certainly holds some great memories for me, having won it with both clubs," said Vicelich, 32.

The niggling continued until last night when NZ Football ruled, despite questions over Vicelich's eligibility from the Auckland federation, he can play. Central accepted that but Waitakere do not and will not field goalkeeper Simon Eaddy, who is in a similar situation as a late registration with the club, for fear of a challenge should they win.

Waitakere are co-coached by Neil Emblen (not playing, calf injury) and Carl Jorgensen (one-match sideline ban from US1 match last week).

Two-time winners Manurewa are at home to Metro today. The top teams in the Northern Regional League's premier and first divisions, Lynn Avon and Three Kings, meet at Ken Maunder Park this afternoon.

Glenfield Rovers entertain Forrest Hill-Milford tomorrow. Further south, Miramar Rangers are home to Wellington United; Waterside-Karori are away to Olympic. Dunedin Technical's bid for a second Cup continues at Caversham today.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Chatham Cup clashes between Central United and Waitakere City

* 1993 (round 3): Waitakere 3 Central 0
* 1995 (round 5): Waitakere 4 Central 0. Waitakere won Cup
* 1997 (round 4): Central 2 Waitakere 1. Central won Cup
* 1999 (round 5): Waitakere 2 Central 1
* 2001 (round 5): Central 2 Waitakere 0
* 2002 (round 5): Central 2 Waitakere 1
* 2005 (round 4): Central 2 Waitakere 1. Central won Cup