Soccer: Wellington seal final spot

Justin Gulley, left, scored the only goal of the game as Team Wellington sealed their spot in the ASB Premiership final. Photo / Getty

Team Wellington have booked a probable meeting with Auckland City in the grand final of the ASB Premiership after edging past Hawke's Bay United in today's semifinal second league.

The men from the capital went into the clash at their David Farrington Park home with a narrow 2-1 advantage from the first leg and it looked like that's the way it would stay as neither side was able to break the deadlock in a scrappy match.

But just as the clock was about to tick into stoppage time, Justin Gulley popped up in the 90th minute to finish tidily and ease the nerves of a Wellington side who had endured a tense closing period after the dismissal of Cole Peverley just past the hour mark.

The 3-1 aggregate triumph means Wellington have now placed one foot in the door of the 2015 OFC Champions League as, under the current format, two teams from New Zealand qualify.

The spots go to the winners of the minor premiership and grand final respectively but, if both honours are won by the same side, the second-placed outfit in the regular season joins the champions in taking on Oceania's best.

That scenario is very much on the cards as minor premiers Auckland City are overwhelming favourites to complete the job in the other second leg semi-final against Waitakere United tomorrow, holding a four-goal advantage.

If Auckland were to progress as expected, then Wellington - who finished the round robin in second - would therefore qualify for the Champions League, regardless of the result in the grand final.

Such a prospect was sure to be at the back of the minds of coach Matt Calcott and his Wellington players and it showed in their first-half performance as, not surprisingly, the hosts seemed content to soak up the pressure and hit back on the counter attack.

With 39 goals to their name, Wellington entered the match as the competition's second-highest scorers and had beaten the Bay 6-1 in the sides' previous meeting in the capital, but a different kind of display was required this afternoon.

The Wellington rearguard was breached only once in the first half, when Nathaniel Hailemariam should have put the visitors ahead after being played in by an exquisite touch from Tom Biss in the 16th minute.

Wellington could likewise have had a goal of their own on 36 minutes, when Peverley strode into the box but put his shot just inches wide. Peverley was still to have a major impact on the game, though, as a second bookable offence led to referee Mirko Benischke brandishing red in the 62nd minute.

Chris Greatholder's charges did their best to make use of the numerical advantage but Wellington continued to hold firm and even managed to create chances with their 10 men, one of which they exploited fully.

Substitute Sam Mason-Smith teed up Gulley, who cut inside his marker and side-footed home in the last minute to spark wild scenes of celebration, both on the pitch and in the stands.

The Wellington camp will now look to cheer on Auckland City tomorrow, when the minor premiers host the defending champions at Kiwitea St.