Football: Team Wellington on verge of new football frontier

Wellington players Jack-Henry Sinclair and Eric Molloy celebrate at the final whistle. Photo / Photosport.co.nz

Team Wellington are 180 minutes away from a new footballing frontier.

On Sunday, they host Fiji's Lautoka FC in the first leg of a two-game OFC Champions League final with the eventual winner heading to the FIFA Club World Cup in Dubai in December, a tournament Team Wellington has never attended.

Having lost to perennial winners Auckland City in each of the last three OFC Champions League finals, Team Wellington finally gained their revenge by squeezing past the seven-time defending champions in this year's semi-final, courtesy of two away goals in a 2-2 second-leg draw.

"I think this year was a bit of a changing of the tides," said Team Wellington attacker Andy Bevin.

"Before, it was Auckland playing the football and dominating possession. This year it felt like we were the ones dictating the game and maintaining possession. Over the last three or four years we've seen this progression at Team Wellington and full credit to the teams of the past and (coach) Jose (Figueira) coming in. It's been really great to see the team grow."

Bevin is one of a number of attacking players jostling for spots in Figueira's starting eleven. That group also includes prolific Guernsey marksman Ross Allen, the side's leading O-League goalscorer Angus Kilkolly, former Wellington Phoenix players Jack-Henry Sinclair and Hamish Watson, rangy striker Nathaniel Hailemariam and energetic Irishman Eric Molloy who headed north this season to join Team Wellington from Southern United.

"It definitely increases the intensity in training," said Molloy.

"It demands a lot from each player and we all have to train particularly well. Jose will be looking to see who might miss one pass or one header or mightn't be working as hard or get too tired at training. It's those little, fine margins to decide your place in the team," he said.

Lautoka FC won't be easy-beats. They qualified for the knockout rounds from the same group as Auckland City, losing just 1-0 to the defending champions and winning their other two matches. They then overcame Tahitian side AS Dragon 2-1 in an away quarter-final before seeing off Solomon Islands outfit Marist FC across two semi-final legs.

Former Wellington Phoenix striker and Solomon Islands international Benjamin Totori is their most dangerous attacker, seasoned Vanuatu defender Brian Kaltack will marshal the back-four and ex-New Zealand age-group international Cory Chettleburgh is well-known to kiwi fans.

But having seemingly overcome their biggest obstacle in the semi-final, there's no danger of Team Wellington dropping their standards as they sit poised on the verge of a first ever appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup.

"The energy amongst the boys and the competition at training shows there's so much desire to be in the starting eleven," said Bevin.

"Players are fighting for their positions. The desire and the togetherness amongst this group means we haven't had games when we haven't been able to turn up."

OFC Champions League Final
Team Wellington v Lautoka FC (Fiji)
First leg: David Farrington Park, Wellington, 2pm, Sunday May 13
Second leg: Churchill Park, Lautoka, 2pm, Sunday May 20