Soccer: Manurewa eye up possibility of all-Auckland final

There would be an ironic twist to the Chatham Cup final if surviving northern clubs Manurewa and Three Kings United see off their Wellington opposition in Sunday's semifinals.

Manurewa are coached by club stalwart Mark Armstrong while Paul Marshall is at the helm with Three Kings. In their playing days they savoured Cup glory only once - as teammates in the Manurewa team who upset runaway National League winners, Kevin Fallon-coached Gisborne City, 2-1 in the Auckland final.

"Getting through to the semifinals is the furthest we have been since that 1984 final," said Armstrong. "It would be great for the club to get back to a final especially in our 50th year.

"Everyone has been talking about an all-Wellington final, but why can't it be all-Auckland?

"We know playing Wellington Olympic at their home ground is not going to be easy but we also know they are under some pressure as they are still in with the chance of the league-cup double."

Playing away from their home ground at Memorial Park is something Manurewa have had to deal with in only one other cup game this season.

"I see us as underdogs for sure," said Armstrong. "Olympic haven't been beaten this season. We have had a good look at them and while I can see they are a good side, I think we are in with a real chance."

This season's cup run is a far cry from last season when Manurewa lost 2-1 away to unheralded North Force in the first round.

"Last season the emphasis was on a good run in the league. In the end we won the first division and got promotion," said Armstrong, who has been coaching the South Auckland club for three seasons. "This season we had to add some more experience. Mark Atkinson, at the back, has certainly brought that."

Atkinson, Stu Roberts, in his second season with the club, and Nathan Coe in midfield have been key to the team's success.

"There is a strong homegrown look to the squad. Most have been with me for three years and at least half have come through the grades at Manurewa," said Armstrong, whose son Brad has scored a handful of goals again this season.

Fitness has been a vital part of Manurewa's season with a couple of games won with late goals. Against Nelson in the quarter-finals, Manurewa fell behind on the hour but stormed home with three late goals to win.

Olympic, also known as "The Greeks", have won 10 and drawn seven of their Central Premier League matches this season and need to beat table-topping Western Suburbs - who knocked them out of last year's cup in the fourth round - in the last game of the season to take the title.

In their only Chatham Cup final appearance, Olympic lost 1-0 to Waitakere City at Napier's McLean Park in 1994. They were beaten semifinalists in 2005.

Leo Bertos, Simon Elliott, Raf de Gregorio, Costa Barbarouses, James Bannatyne and Mark Paston are among players from the Newtown Park-based team to play for the All Whites.