Soccer: Auckland win fifth title

Auckland City claimed their first ASB Premiership title in five seasons today with a 1-0 win over Team Wellington in the grand final. Photo / Getty Images.

Auckland City 1
Team Wellington 0

Auckland City claimed their first ASB Premiership title in five seasons today with a 1-0 win over Team Wellington in the grand final.

After four years of frustrating playoff losses it was a deserved fifth championship title for Auckland who were the better side at Kiwitea Street today and throughout this year's competition, only losing once all season.

One moment of real quality separated the two teams, when Auckland skipper Ivan Vicelich delivered a 60-yard inch-perfect pass into the path of Emiliano Tade, who expertly took the ball in his stride before dinking it past Wellington goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley after 31 minutes.

It was the Golden Boot winner's 17th goal of the season and allowed Auckland to relax, keep the ball at the back and use their pace on attack when Wellington came searching for the ball.

Auckland were often intent on a slow, measured build up while Wellington were eager to release the pace of Henry Fa-arodo and Joel Stevens on the counter attack. The clash of styles created a scrappy match with both sides often let down by the final delivery around the box. Portuguese import Joao Moreira had some nice touches for Auckland, while Ryan de Vries was a constant threat with his quick feet.

Auckland should have secured the win in the second half but Tade and De Vries contrived to miss three one-on-ones as Wellington pushed numbers forward in search of the equaliser.

Influential Welsh midfielder Chris Bale had a strong game for Auckland and produced an impressive display of first-half passing, delivering numerous raking 60-yard passes with pin-point precision that helped launch attacks.

Bale was flanked by a composed defending duo of Vicelich and Angel Berlanga and Auckland rarely looked threatened but did cough up a glorious last minute chance for Wellington to equalise.

Wellington substitute Roy Kayara broke down the left hand side and expertly pulled the ball back to the penalty spot for James Musa whose shot at goal was deflected just inches wide by Takuya Iwata. Auckland goalkeeper Tamati Williams celebrated the 91st minute block by running to the Japanese left back and lifting him up in an ecstatic bear-hug embrace.

Vicelich said his team was thrilled with winning the elusive championship.

"It's been a long while since we won this title," said Vicelich. "We've won a few minor premierships and a few O-Leagues along the way which has been awesome, but it's so great to get the title back in the bag."

Auckland will now take a week off before returning to camp to prepare for the 2014 OFC Champions League, which starts in Fiji next month.