Soccer: NZ clubs set to cash in on City's cup success

Paul Posa. Photo / Dean Purcell

There is plenty left for Auckland City to play for when they meet African champions T P Mazembe for fifth place in the Fifa Club World Cup at the Zayed Sports City stadium early tomorrow morning.

And, not only for the City club and players.

With the chance to add another US$500,000 ($688,000) to the US$1 million the Oceania champions have already won, the other seven New Zealand Football Championship clubs and New Zealand Football, under a pre-tournament agreement, will also collect handsomely with 49 per cent of the money won - less expenses - destined for the clubs.

While disappointed to lose their quarter-final to Mexican club Atlante FC, there is a quiet determination in the team to finish what has already been a successful campaign on a high.

Against the classy Mexicans, the City players were under constant pressure but still kept them out until just before halftime when they conceded a soft goal.

Coach Paul Posa will be looking for more of that resolute approach against the team from the Democratic Republic of Congo when they play the curtain-raiser to the keenly anticipated semifinal between Atlante and tournament favourites Barcelona.

In losing to Asian winners Pohang Steelers - and after leading 1-0 at halftime - Mazembe showed out as a more than useful team and one fully capable of testing Auckland City. While trailing the Koreans on shots on goals, Mazembe still had 19 attempts.

Their two current internationals, Mutemba Kidiaba and Tresor Mputu, play in goal and up front respectively. Being away from home appears to hold few fears for the Africans, who scored 11 goals in seven matches en route to their win in the African Champions League - their first title in more than 40 years.

Posa will make changes for his team's third, and last, game. Back at the same stadium in which they went down to Atlante, they will be without midfielder Adam McGeorge, who is suspended after copping two soft yellow cards.

If, as expected, rightback James Pritchett is fully recovered from his hamstring injury, Posa will have the option of pushing Chad Coombes forward to play in attack or midfield with Jason Hayne likely to drop back to midfield or stay up front.

Posa might also be tempted to give Alex Feneridis a start - perhaps in place of Li-Hyung Lee, who has yet to show out in Abu Dhabi.

Paul Gothard is expected to play in goal, with Posa saying all along he would give both goalkeepers a start in the last two matches. Jacob Spoonley has played both games thus far.

The odds will again be against City but they have shown enough to suggest they will again be competitive and in with a chance in the last international outing for a New Zealand soccer team this year.

FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP

Play-off for fifth place
* Auckland City v T P Mazembe.
* Zayed Sports City.
* Tomorrow 2am (NZ time) live SS1 (from 1.45am).
* Auckland City (possible): Paul Gothard, James Pritchett, Ivan Vicelich, Sam Campbell, Ian Hogg, Chad Coombes, Alex Feneridis, Matt Williams, Jason Hayne, Daniel Koprivcic, Adam Dickenson.