Soccer: Suburbs v Suburbs in Cup final clash

Central's Chad Coombes (left) turns turtle after a Hoani Edwards tackle. Picture / Glenn Jeffrey

The Chatham Cup clock will be wound back 30 years and beyond when Eastern Suburbs and Wellington's Western Suburbs clash in the September 2 final.

In contrasting semifinals, Eastern Suburbs needed a goal from the last kick in regular time of their away game with Central United to send it into extra time. Further on, they had to go through the agony of a penalty shootout before advancing.

It was easier for their southern rivals, who scored four second-half goals at Endeavour Park to shut out Dunedin visitors Caversham 4-0.

It will be the Auckland club's first appearance in a final since they lost 4-0 to Christchurch United in 1976.

With five wins between 1951 and 1969, Eastern Suburbs, formed in 1934, are the fourth most successful club in Cup history.

University Mt Wellington (or simply Mt Wellington) have won it seven times and North Shore and Christchurch United six.

Western Suburbs are through to their first final since they beat Wellington City 3-2 in extra time in 1971. Their only other success came as Porirua Hospital in 1935 when they beat Western (Christchurch) 3-1.

Western Suburbs board member Dave Wilson said his club would ask New Zealand Soccer this week to revisit the decision to play the final at North Harbour Stadium.

"We would like to see the game played at Porirua Park - which is not our home ground - as it is a superb facility," said Wilson.

"But we will go with the flow if they decide not to make a change."

In opting for North Harbour, NZS has had to schedule the final to follow a Hyundai A-League game between the New Zealand Knights and Adelaide United which kicks-off at 12.30pm.

Given the amount of football being played in the wintry conditions, a switch of venue might be in the better interests of all concerned.

Saturday's semifinal on the superb Kiwitea St pitch was a classic.

With few early scoring chances, the deadlock was not broken until the 43rd minute when Central's Paul Vodanovich was left unmarked at the far post from where he rose to head home a corner kick played in by man of the match Salesh Kumar.

A long-range, slow-motion goal out of nothing from Geoff Villaborouth less than 2 1/2 minutes into the second spell got Suburbs back to 1-1. Within eight minutes Central were back in front when Kumar provided the build-up and Glenn Eie the finish for 2-1.

Half chances produced nothing until 3m 18s into added time at the end of the mandatory 90 minutes when substitute Michael Smith - in action for barely 3 mins - pounced on a loose ball and had a ton of time to score.

Four minutes into the first period of extra time Smith had his second and Suburbs the lead for the first time.

They held that advantage until 1 1/2 minutes into added time at the end of the second period when a defensive error gave Luis del Monte the chance to score. He did, it ended 3-3 and a shootout was called on.

Goalkeeper Sean Dowling beat his Central opposite Richard Gillespie for 1-0. Sam Mathews then fired wide for Central. Suburbs captain Hoani Edwards had his attempt saved by Gillespie but linesman Steve Budai ruled a retake, Edwards slotted and with no further hiccups Suburbs edged home 5-3.

Western Suburbs, with regular coach Stu Jacobs in England as Ricki Herbert's assistant, had Matt Calcott calling the shots as Paul Whitmarsh, Ben Fieldd, Jimmy Cudd and Rupert Ryan scored between the 53rd and 80th minutes to book their place in next month's final.