KEY POINTS:
They may have lost 1-2 to A-League leaders Adelaide United at the Club World Cup, but Waitakere United proved they were worthy of being in Japan alongside some of world soccer's heavyweights.
The Auckland side's ambitions were last night undone in Tokyo by two set piece goals but their Commitment could not be faulted.
The part-timers ran themselves to a standstill, with Waitakere coach Chris Milicich proud of his players post match.
"It may not have been the result we came for but it was as close to the performance I was asking for as you can get," Milicich said.
"I am so proud of the players and of the club in the effort that has been put in but desperately disappointed that we couldn't quite deliver the result."
Milicich said his side's performance should have silenced those who questioned Waitakere's appearance in the event.
"After last year people questioned our right to be here. After this performance they should be applauding the progress we have made and acknowledging the level of performance that can come out of New Zealand and Oceania if given the resources, support and time together."
Waitakere took the lead after absorbing early pressure from Adelaide when Paul Seaman hooked home from close range after Adelaide goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic could not hold a Neil Sykes free kick.
Adelaide responded when Waitakere failed to mark up from a right wing corner. The space allowed Daniel Mullen the chance to head home beyond Richard Gillespie.
The second half followed a similar pattern with Waitakere sitting deep and looking to counter through the pace of Roy Krishna and Allan Pearce out wide.
The winner when it came with just six minutes remaining from another set piece when Adelaide skipper Travis Dodd headed home from a tight angle.
Waitakere's regular captain Danny Hay spoke in bitter sweet tones after he had been ruled out of the match with a calf injury.
"Obviously I would much rather have been out there, in what would surely have been my last game at this level but this is not about me, this is about the players that were given the job and I thought did it superbly.
"There were some great performances, and in reality not a bad one.
"From Richard Gillespie in goal to young Roy Krishna up front, everyone put their hand up and did themselves and the Oceania region proud."
Waitakere United 1 (Paul Seaman) Adelaide United 2 (Daniel Mullen, Travis Dodd). Halftime: 1-1.
- NZPA
