Soccer: Three the magic number for Cup final

Jacob Mathews (front) will play alongside twins Joel and Sam Mathews in tomorrow's Chatham Cup. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Sam Mathews has scored six goals for Three Kings United this season but only one that counts.

The unbelievable cracker he thumped home with his left foot - he is naturally right-footed - to seal last month's 2-1 Chatham Cup semifinal victory over favoured Miramar Rangers will remain forever etched in his memory.

"It was the best goal I have ever scored," said Mathews. "I have tried to do it plenty of times in practice and matches but usually with my right foot. As soon as I hit it I knew it was in."

So did his jubilant teammates who played out the remaining dozen or so minutes to ensure their place in tomorrow's final when they face Olympic - a second Wellington team in as many Cup outings.

For Mathews, the match at North Harbour Stadium holds particular significance.

Two years ago he missed the final after being sent off in a league game a week earlier.

He then had to sit in the stand and watch as his twin brother Joel and younger brother Jacob played their part as Central United beat Western Suburbs - another Wellington team - 9-8 in a tense penalty shootout after a scoreless draw.

Now Sam Mathews is steeling himself for the biggest game of his career. That he will be playing alongside his brothers makes it even more special.

The trio all played for the Auckland Grammar 1st X1 at times - but never together.

"It is great to be playing alongside them. We are all completely different players," said Mathews. "Joel is a tenacious defender, Jacob likes to run at players and take them on for pace while I play a passing game in central midfield and keep it pretty simple."

It is no surprise the boys have been kicking a ball all their life.

Their father, Mark, played around the local leagues and had a stint playing semi-professionally in an Australian state league. Their mother also played.

The older brothers, just turned 23, have successfully mixed soccer and studies.

After a couple of years on a soccer scholarship at St Johns University in New York, Sam is about to complete conjoint degrees in commerce (accounting) and property. Joel also studied at Auckland University and now is in assurance at PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

Jacob, according to Sam, is in a "transition stage" after doing six months at university and is now working part-time as he waits to see whether he will be accepted into Teachers College next year.

The brothers have made their mark internationally.

Joel, who captains Three Kings, has played for the under-20 and under-23 national teams. Sam has played at under-17 and under-20 and for New Zealand A while Jacob has been in under-17 and under-20 sides.

Coach Paul Marshall had some concerns in the lead-up to the final after Joel tweaked a hamstring in last Saturday's 5-0 away win over Fencibles.

"It is a real concern as he is our captain and a key player," said Marshall. "It is only a grade one tear but even they can need three or four weeks."

There are some interesting similarities as the teams prepare for what promises to be a keen contest.

Both have played most of their six games en route to the final at home. They won their quarter-finals 4-3 - both away - and neither has won a final. In their only appearance on the big stage, Olympic lost 1-0 to Waitakere City at McLean Park in 1994. Three Kings have never been as close although their constituent clubs Eden and Mt Roskill did win - but that was a long time ago.

For Marshall and his team there remains one other huge driving force.

Club stalwart Ken Sargent lost his battle with cancer this week and was farewelled at the Three Kings clubrooms on Friday.

The players would like nothing better than returning to Keith Hay Park after tomorrow's game to celebrate in style in the same hall.

The odds are heavily stacked in Lynn Avon's favour as they chase an unprecedented ninth NZ Women's Knockout Cup triumph in their 10th final.

Claudelands Rovers, on the other hand, are playing the final for the first time. In the semifinals, in their only home game in four en route to the final, Lynn Avon beat Upper Hutt City 10-0. In their three earlier games it was much closer with two odd-goal wins and a first-up 3-1 win over Fencibles United.

Rovers romped through the early rounds winning 20-0, 16-0 and 10-0 before edging last year's beaten finalist Western 3-2 away in the semifinals.

CHATHAM CUP FINAL

* Three Kings United v Olympic (Wellington)
* North Harbour Stadium, tomorrow 12.30pm (live SS2)
* Referee: Jamie Cross (Wellington)

* * *

ROAD TO FINAL

Three Kings United

* bt Cambridge 6-2 (home)
* bt Te Atatu 13-2 (h)
* bt Hamilton Wanderers 4-1 (h)
* bt Lynn Avon 2-1 (away)

Quarter-finals: bt Caversham 4-3 (a)
Semifinals: bt Miramar Rangers 2-1 (h)

Olympic

* bt Lower Hutt City 3-0 (h)
* bt Petone 2-0 (h)
* bt Red Sox 4-2 (h)
* bt Waterside Karori 2-1 (h)

Quarter-finals: bt Forrest Hill Milford 4-3 (a)
Semifinals: bt Manurewa 2-0 (h)

* * *

Last five Cup finals

2008: East Coast Bays 1 Dunedin Technical 0
2007: Central 0 Western Suburbs 0 (Central 9-8 pens)
2006: Western Suburbs 0 Eastern Suburbs 0 (Western Subs 3-0 pens)
2005: Central 2 Marist Palmerston North 1
2004: Miramar Rangers 1 Waitakere City 0

* * *

WOMEN'S KNOCKOUT CUP FINAL

* Claudelands Rovers v Lynn Avon United
* North Harbour Stadium, tomorrow 3pm.
* Referee: Anna-Marie Keighley (Taranaki)