Soccer: Holders Central shot down in a cup classic

Central United 3 East Suburbs (5-3 on pens) 3

There have been some classic Chatham Cup ties since Seacliff won the first final in 1923 but few in the modern era would rival Eastern Suburbs' dramatic penalty shootout win yesterday.

Holders Central were on the brink of a sixth final in 10 years until Suburbs substitute Michael Smith scored with the last kick of normal time to level the semifinal at 2-2.

But Central returned the favour by equalising with a deflected shot from Luiz Del Monte in the last moment of extra time after Smith had netted a second to give Suburbs a 3-2 lead.

It was almost appropriate that this match would be decided by spot kicks. Suburbs kept their cool to slot all five and win a place in their first Chatham Cup final since 1976 and a chance to add to the five won between 1951 and 1969.

"What a game," said Suburbs player-coach Sean Douglas.

"We've got a whole lot of good, young players and for them to experience something like this is fantastic."

Douglas is a wily campaigner who was arguably the best player on the park yesterday, expertly marshalling the Suburbs defence.

The game was a frantic end-to-end affair that maybe lacked some quality but more than made up for it with its excitement and competitiveness

Central took the lead in the 42nd minute when towering centre-half Paul Vodanovich nodded in a header from close range.

Geoff Villaborouth equalised with a left-footed volley soon after the restart before Glenn Eie restored Central's lead 10 minutes later with an expertly-taken goal.

That goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of Suburbs, as Central took control - until Smith blasted home from close range.

He doubled the dose in the 95th minute when he lobbed keeper Richard Gillespie but it could easily have been a different story for Central had Jason Hayne not missed a gilt-edged chance inside the six-yard box just seconds earlier.

Douglas' team will now await the result of today's other semifinal between Wellington club Western Suburbs and Dunedin's Caversham.

But last night was a time for the players of Eastern Suburbs' golden eras from decades ago to reminisce and the young brigade to dream of what might be.