Soccer: Titans of NZ game poised for showdown

Ivan Vicelich, being chased by Canterbury United's Russell Kamo, says Auckland City are hoping to continue an unbeaten run with a much-wanted win over Waitakere. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Rarely in New Zealand soccer are the stakes so high.

Tomorrow's O-League Group-A decider between old foes Auckland City and Waitakere United will attract the biggest crowd of the domestic season to Kiwitea St with the group winners just 180 minutes away from another shot at Fifa's Club World Cup and a guaranteed payout of at least US$500,000 ($707,000).

Both clubs have been there before. Both are desperate to return.

The winners of the group - and Waitakere can achieve that with a draw tomorrow - will play the Group-B winner, likely to be Papua New Guinea champions Hekari United, home and away to book their ticket to Abu Dhabi in December.

Waitakere are in a strong position in edging ahead on goal difference, but City start as favourites.

Not only do they have the advantage of playing at home, they have a proud unbeaten record on New Zealand soil stretching back to March 15 last year when they lost the first leg of their NZFC semifinal against YoungHeart Manawatu.

They bounced back to win the second leg and the tie and then the final - against Waitakere. Since then they have won twice on the big stage at the Club World Cup, gone unbeaten in five O-League games and wrapped up another NZFC minor premiership with a game in hand, going 13 games unbeaten including a 2-1 win and 1-1 draw against Waitakere.

In 26 games - NZFC and O-League from November 2004 - between the two clubs, City have won 12 and lost six (including one when the points were forfeited for playing an ineligible player). The rest ended in draws.

For City captain Ivan Vicelich, the game is another of the "very big ones" he has played in an illustrious career.

"There is a lot at stake. Everyone, the players, coaches and supporters, wants to go back [to Abu Dhabi]. To give ourselves a chance, we have to win," said Vicelich. "We know that even if we win we still have work to do as the island nations have shown they are better prepared now.

"While Waitakere can go out thinking a draw will do, we have to be 100 per cent focused on winning. We have had a very good season and we have prepared well. We all hope our unbeaten run continues and we can win a game we so desperately want to.

"It has been a great period not just for me but for Auckland City and all football in New Zealand. We have a great set-up at Auckland City and while it is an amateur game, the club has a very professional attitude. It is now up to the players to take it a step further again."

Like Vicelich, who first kicked a ball at the Massey club in West Auckland, his counterpart at Waitakere, midfielder Jake Butler, has his roots "out west". And, like Vicelich, Butler has also experienced the thrill of playing at a Club World Cup. He too wants to go back.

"I have played twice in Tokyo now, I would love to go to Abu Dhabi," said Butler, who took the captain's armband this season following Danny Hay's retirement.

Asked whether playing for a draw was a big part of their game plan, Butler was adamant.

"We will be going all out to win. For us, attack is going to be our best means of defence.

"For [all] of us, it will be one of the biggest games of our careers."

Waitakere go into the game with confidence after a late-season surge.

In their first nine games of the season they scored no more than one or two goals a game. In their last six games they have scored 24 with four or more in all but one - the 4-3 loss to Team Wellington.

After that loss, coach Neil Emblen set them a target.

"We had a maximum of 10 games to play," said Butler.

"He said win them all and we will win the grand final and be off to the Club World Cup. We have won four - six to go."

After a review, the yellow card received by City's Matt Williams in the 1-1 draw with Magenta has now, in a case of mistaken identity, gone to Adam McGeorge who, rather than Williams, will miss tomorrow's game.

O-LEAGUE

Group A

* Auckland City v Waitakere United
- Kiwitea St, Sandringham
- Tomorrow 3pm

* AS Magenta v AS Manu Ura
- Stade Numa Daly, Noumea
- Today 5pm

Group B

* Marist v Hekari United
- Lawson Tama Stadium
- Today 5pm (NZ time)

* Tafea v Lautoka
- Municipal Stadium
- Today 5pm (NZ time)