Soccer: Lucky bounce for Auckland

Auckland's Luis Corrales. Photo / Photosport

Auckland City have largely played controlled football throughout this season but it was a moment of pure luck that gifted them a crucial advantage after the first leg of the O-League final.

Luis Corrales scored one of the most important goals of his career yesterday but knew very little about it.

The pint-sized Costa Rican striker slid in at the back post to meet a deep cross from the left in the 82nd minute. He couldn't make a clean connection but Amicale defender Selwyn Sese Ala could only blast the ball into the grounded City player and the rebound bounced into the net.

There was some doubt about whether Corrales would make it to Vanuatu - he arrived a day later than the rest of the squad - but City will be delighted they got him on a plane.

"There was a problem with his visa but he has been doing very well so we were keen to get him involved," a relieved City co-coach Ramon Tribulietx said.

The two-time O-League champions got off to a good start in a match played in scorching heat and had their noses in front by the 22nd minute. Amicale goalkeeper Ernest Bong charged from his line and clattered into Spanish striker Manel Exposito, once on the books of Catalan giant Barcelona.

A penalty was awarded for Bong's challenge and Exposito dusted himself off to dispatch it, despite the custodian getting two hands to the strike.

Getting back into the game was always going to be difficult for the home side as Auckland have conceded only two goals in their entire O-League campaign. But, buoyed by the fanatical support of the 8000 football-mad locals at Port Vila Stadium, they pressed a deep-lying Auckland defence hard for the rest of the match and had their reward in the 67th minute.

There was no surprise in the fact that it came from the boot of captain Fenedy Masauvakalo, who already had six O-League strikes to his name and added a seventh when he swivelled in the box to fire a left foot shot past City goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley.

With the momentum on their side, it looked like Amicale had every chance of going on to earn the win but their hearts were broken when Corrales came off the bench and wrote himself into City folklore.

"The win has come via a little bit of luck in the end and I think we would definitely have settled for a draw," admitted Aaron McFarland, who is in charge of the side with Tribulietx.

"Considering they played very well and dominated possession, we're very happy with 2-1.

"We had watched a bit of footage of Amicale and expected them to play a possession game; they didn't surprise us in that fact," said McFarland.

"They mixed up their play - going longer sometimes and keeping it short at others - and we were very impressed with them."

The second leg will take place at Auckland City's Kiwitea St ground on April 17 and there is much at stake.

The prize for O-League victory is a place in the prestigious Club World Cup in Japan, which brings with it a US$500,000 pay cheque.

Amicale 1
Auckland City 2