Soccer: Draw for semifinals hard for coaches

Paul Marshall and Mark Armstrong are up against it.

As coaches of Three Kings United and Manurewa they would dearly love to add to the success they savoured as Chatham Cup-winning players when the final rolls around in September.

But winning through to the season's showpiece got a lot harder yesterday when they were drawn against in-form Central League outfits Olympic and Miramar Rangers in next month's semifinals.

Marshall at least has home advantage in going up against three-time winners Miramar Rangers but Armstrong must contemplate a trip to Newtown Park to play fellow Wellington side Olympic.

Miramar (one loss) and Olympic (unbeaten), are second and fourth in the Central premier division, but with league success probably out of reach - they trail leaders Western Suburbs by seven and nine points respectively - the cup looms large.

"I'm happy with the draw but I would probably have preferred one of the other two teams," said Marshall. "Arguably, Miramar are the best team left in the cup but I'm sure both Three Kings and Miramar would like to think they can win [the cup]. But, having said that, Olympic haven't lost all season and from what I hear, they deposed Forrest Hill Milford quite comfortably."

Of his team's extra time win over Caversham in Dunedin, Marshall described the game as a "humdinger" saying it was a great advertisement for the code and one of the best games he has seen in years. He saw his team's fitness as key in their 4-3 triumph.

Marshall has been to a final as a coach once - in 2001 when he was in charge at Central United who lost 5-4 on penalties to Mt Wellington after being level 3-3 after extra time.

Two-time cup-winners Manurewa have won through to the last four with a series of no-frills efforts. They were hard-pressed through the early rounds scoring 1-0 wins over Hibiscus Coast and Ngaruawahia before beating cup-holders East Coast Bays 7-6 in a penalty shootout after finishing 1-1 after extra time. In more recent outings they won 3-1 at home over Metro and Nelson Suburbs.

Last season's Women's Knockout Cup finalists Lynn Avon and Western remain on course for another showdown after being drawn apart in the semifinals. Holders Lynn Avon will be at home to Upper Hutt City while Western too will have home advantage when they play Claudelands Rovers at Christchurch's Walter Park.

CHATHAM CUP
* Semifinals (August 30, 2pm).
* Three Kings v Miramar Rangers, Keith Hay Park.
* Olympic (Wellington) v Manurewa, Newtown Park.

WOMEN'S KNOCKOUT CUP

Semifinals
* Western (Christchurch) v Claudelands Rovers, Walter Park, August 29 1pm (tbc).
* Lynn Avon v Upper Hutt City, Ken Maunder Park, August 30 1pm (tbc).