Soccer: Canterbury wilt before Auckland domination

Auckland's Jonathan Smith (right) beats Canterbury's Daniel Terris to the ball. Picture / Martin Sykes

Auckland City must wait until next weekend to find out whether they meet Canterbury United or Team Wellington in the grand final of the New Zealand Football Championship at Kiwitea St on April 22, but they can hardly be worried.

Such was their dominance over Canterbury in their 3-0 semifinal victory on Saturday that they seem unstoppable.

Canterbury get a second shot at the final when they play Wellington, 3-2 winners over YoungHeart Manawatu after extra time in Palmerston North yesterday.

It took 27 minutes for Auckland to open the scoring on Saturday and inevitably it was striker Keryn Jordan who headed in a pinpoint free-kick from Neil Sykes while the Canterbury tall timber were rooted to the ground.

Two minutes later Liam Mulrooney was on hand to make it 2-0 after Grant Young had bamboozled the defence with some magical footwork and laid on a perfect cross.

It was a measure of the one-way traffic that it wasn't until the 39th minute that Andrew Barron managed the visitors' first serious assault on goal, only to have his shot blocked.

Canterbury were more aggressive in the second spell, but as they pressed forward Young was able to outflank the defence, round goalkeeper James Bannatyne and back-heel the ball into the net for 3-0.

Jordan, substitute Chad Coombes and Sykes all came close to adding to the total while Canterbury's closest effort, a free kick by Barron, was saved by a diving Ross Nicholson in the closing seconds.

Marty Clark, the halftime entertainer, belted out a spirited version of Working Class Man and Auckland's football was certainly tradesman-like, with moments of professional flair.

Coach Allan Jones was delighted to have his senior players back in harness and fully fit.

"The team performance is getting better and better," he said. "That includes all of them. The subs are coming on and doing a job."

Canterbury coach Danny Halligan, whose team had twice beaten Auckland City during the league season, was far from happy at the way they competed.

"It was a poor performance," he said. "We never really got into it physically, which was disappointing.

"We're better than that and if we get the chance we'll put a far better performance on the park next time."

Wellington, who entered the playoffs as fourth seeds, continued their impressive run of late-season form, but it took them 110 minutes to establish superiority over Manawatu and the Little brothers, Graham and Brian, provided the goals.

Manawatu opened the scoring after 27 minutes through Commins Menapi, but Wellington were level at halftime after a header by Bryan Little. The home team regained the lead in the 58th minute when Steve Gulley helped a Campbell Banks free kick into his own net.

Bryan Little forced the game into extra time when he scored in the 87th minute and brother Graham delivered the killer blow with a superb chip over goalkeeper Michael Utting after 20 minutes of extra time.

Manawatu, who finished second in the regular season to Auckland City, will now be hoping Auckland win the grand final as they will then inherit the second spot in the Oceania qualifying tournament for the World Club Cup.