Soccer: A match too far for favourites

Jeremy Brockie (right) is one of the most exciting players in the country. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Allan Jones wants to win today's New Zealand Football Championship grand final as much as anyone but that does not stop him asking why.

"Why are we playing this game at all?" asked Jones as he prepares to put out his Auckland City side against Danny Halligan's Canterbury United at Kiwitea St. "The league was decided weeks ago, and that's where it should have ended.

"As the top two teams after 21 rounds, Auckland City and YoungHeart Manawatu should have clinched the two spots in the Oceania Club Championships and with it the chance to go on and play for the big prize at Fifa's World Club Championships.

"Now, we have a situation that, should Canterbury win, Manawatu would miss out out. That does not make sense to me. It is out of step with other leagues around the world."

If Canterbury defy the lop-sided odds (last night Auckland were paying $1.42 and Canterbury $7) and triumph, they will join City at the Oceania play-offs. If City win, Manawatu will go through as the second New Zealand team.

"My biggest concern is coming out of the game injury-free," said Jones. "We have bigger things to worry about next month than this."

Apart from any involvement in the Oceania qualifiers, today's game marks the end of an era for both coaches.

Jones, having already guided City to two NZFC triumphs and chasing a second grand final victory as well, leaves at the end of next month to become national women's coach at New Zealand Soccer.

Halligan, after 34 years in a game he started playing as a 7-year-old and has coached for the past 12 years, is moving on. "I'm not leaving the sport with any ill-feeling," he said, "but I want to get some balance in my life."

The coach, one of about a dozen players to play more than 50 times for the All Whites, would like to go out on a winning note - and United have some form to back those hopes.

In four matches between the sides this season, each have won twice. United beat City 3-2 at Kiwitea St early on in one of the best matches of the season. They could not repeat, however, when the two sides clashed in a play-off at the same ground a couple of weeks ago, City winning 3-0.

"We feel we have learned lessons from that game," said Halligan. "In beating Team Wellington last Sunday, we played some of our best football and take some heart from that."

Today's battle promises plenty.

In Jeremy Brockie and Andy Barron, the visitors have two of the most exciting players in the country. Much will depend on their ability to open up the usually well-organised City defence.

At the other end, Ben Sigmund and Daniel Terris, in the heart of the Canterbury defence, and James Bannatyne in goal behind them, will need a full-on 90-minute effort to keep goal-grabbing City strikers Keryn Jordan and Grant Young in check.

Both sides will be close to full strength.

Jones, for one of the first times this season, has a full squad to select from. Halligan is without only Dean Tallentire, who will miss his second successive final, this time through suspension after injury ruled him out of the City side last season.

There will be plenty of pressure on referee Kevin Stoltenkamp, who controlled the first match of the season between Hawkes Bay and Waitakere.

He now steps out for the last match of the season fully aware both teams - if Canterbury win - face a short turnaround before the Oceania play-offs and will not want to lose any players to injury.


* Kick-off is at 2pm.