WAITAKERE UNITED 5
KOSSA FC 0
KEY POINTS:
Waitakere United booked themselves another shot at the big time with an emphatic win over Kossa FC in yesterday's O-League decider.
From the time Benjamin Totori scored the 7m 12s opening goal against his Solomon Islands countrymen at Trusts Stadium, there was no doubt Waitakere had come to
play - and win - in style.
They added a second inside 25 minutes and completed the rout with three in the second spell, including two for Allan Pearce, who joined Kossa strikers James Naka and Joe Luwi in sharing the golden boot.
The victory completed a unique quadrella for United after their triumphs in the National Youth League and in completing the New Zealand Football Championship minor premiership/grand final double.
Their sights are now set on the return trip to Japan in December for Fifa's World Club Cup and a guaranteed US$500,000 ($650,000) pay cheque.
"Winning today was the big one," said United coach Chris Milicich as he savoured the comprehensive victory and the O-League title with a 6-3 aggregate after losing the first1 in Honiara two weeks ago. "Winning the NZFC does not get you anything."
Just as quickly, Milicich added: "The whole focus now is on Japan - and doing better than the last time."
Yesterday's victory followed a week of meticulous planning backed by a near-perfect implementation.
The only question mark surrounded the availability of inspirational captain Danny Hay.
Rated virtually "no chance" of playing as he struggled with an ankle injury, Hay - but only after "I don't know how many injections" - was named to start an hour before kick-off.
He lasted an hour. His next task was to raise the trophy in triumph.
Hay and fellow defenders Neil Emblen and Jonathan Perry, with back-up from Neil Sykes, were rarely tested by a largely inept Kossa side.
Once Chris Bale got the final touch to a Sykes corner kick which Emblen headed down for 2-0, it was simply a matter of when and how many the home side would score.
The safety-first third goal came midway through the second spell - Pearce heading home another Sykes corner - with the fourth and fifth following not much later as Pearce volleyed home a Jason Hayne cross and Jake Butler scored a goal out of nothing with a snap shot from outside the penalty area as the Kossa defence were caught napping.
It was a disappointing effort from the visitors. They showed little of the spark which earned them the points and kudos in the stifling Honiara heat.
The expected three-pronged attack from Naka, Luwi and Reg Davani never eventuated.
With the United defence able to do almost all their work coming forward, midfielders Butler and Bale were never under pressure. Hayne and Sykes linked well with Pearce, Totori and Daniel Kopricvic who relished his start ahead of Commins Menapi.
