Team Wellington 2011/12

Bloody oath, they did it.  Congrats Tee Dubs

$69 on Jetstart to fly up on Sunday.

Was at the game. TW was a better side on the day, they played a good style of football. Nicely on the ground, with a few good flicks to set up the forwards. Ivan Vicelich was just playing long balls in and there was plenty of attempts onto the woodwork.

However, I was disappointed that from the beginning of the second half TW was already trying to waste as much time as they could. A few exaggerated injuries, throw-ins and free-kicks all dragged on. Not sure what the red card was for, perhaps dissent to the referee (TW were pushing off the ball, trying to wind up Auckland City, but they were trying to keep a cool head).

Not sure if it was someone on the forum who was at the game, but one of the TW supporters was being an absolute di*k towards our knitting circle. Felt like bashing him, but I'm far too small

Nice humble stuff ChrisACFC - and very refreshing honesty from a City supporter. But from what you are saying it does sound a bit like what goes around comes around.

And that sort of approach is called professionalism (in inverted commas) - kind of a backhanded complement from me I know, but it has nevertheless served City well in recent years in terms of keeping them as the dominant force in National League Football.NatPevin2012-04-22 17:55:57

http://photosport.co.nz/search.php?searchField=HEADLINE&albumId=58703&searchstring="ASB Premiership Semi Finals - Auckland v Wellington, 22 April 2012"

In a knockout game teams are going to waste as much time as the ref lets them get away with. Wellington won 3-1 so not sure how relevant that is anyway - if they'd played longer probably would have been 4 or 5

Great work from Matty in his first season.

Not sure where you got that from, good sized crowd and though most of us were pretty quiet, the knitting circle were at its finest. Loudest I've ever heard from them, even as TW hammered the goals past and still chanting after the final whistle.

Probably took it well, because we still have the O-League final to look forward to next week. Maybe we'll see you there next year.

Out of interest, given their dislike of Waitakere, will the ACFC fans be out in numbers supporting TW in the final?

On the wind up turfmooore?

Apparently ACFC are still the best team in the league though because what you do in the playoffs doesn't matter?

According to those in the A-League GF thread anyway.

Another enormous result for TW. Beating ACFC at home by a goal is one thing, going up there and winning by a couple is something else. Well done once more to Matt and the team.

Well done Team Welly - a great result by (correct me if wrong) the youngest squad in the NZFC.

its ASB Prem - and no chance (Waikato would be)

Heard from someone at the ground that quite a few of the fans were pretty sour about the loss, which is understandable tbf if you are to compare what's put in to each team. We don't need to go there though do we . Huge result for team wellington.

Would be interested to know what Exposito said/did to get sent.

I guess the ref understands Spanish?  The Herald is saying this "Auckland City's joy was short lived when Dakota Lucas scored with a tap in on 82 minutes with Exposito sent off by referee Chris Kerr after an altercation ensued following the goal.".

Altercation eh?  Hope it was caught on camera

They were saying upstairs that it was cause he called the ref a f**king c**t which I guess is fair enough.

I thought ACFC would really go through unbeaten this year but today, TW put on what could rightly be called a masterful display of football. I thought the big difference between the two sides was that Calcott out coached Ramon. TW pushed forward and stopped ACFC playing out from the back. They choked up that short ball they play from Spoonley into Mulligan and forced them to play long. ACFC never adjusted and had no plan B. When TW lapped up the long ball, they tried to hold it as much as possible and played some nice football. Johnny Raj was immense at the back and was MOM easily. I though ACFC probably suffered from a lack of midfielders. Danko was a passenger so that left Mulligan and Feneridis to do all the donkey work where as Eager, Cheriton Patrick and Fleming had numbers, time, space and options to do what they wanted. They really controlled the midfield and to me, that's was the battle done and dusted. Just other little things as well. Musa and Raj won everything in the air yet TW played everything on the ground. Where it's been the strength of ACFC all year to run ball at feet, it shows they really took them out of their game plan cause they went aerial a lot. Hitting the post 5 times also told a tale that it was not to be their day.

Good result and I think the ACFC fans that were there were loud but respectful. Nothing I saw about taking it hard etc or lipping off.

Roll on the final - TW to win it based on how they played today.

I assume you mean fair enough that he should have been sent off, rather than it was a fair enought comment.

If I remember correctly the "GF" has been televised over the last few seasons?

Well I think if he was call a fat c**t then perhaps that might have been a bit more accurate. The ref had an ok performance I guess, didn't really notice him.

Have NZF confirmed day and time yet?

Sunday 2pm.

Final date and kick off not confirmed as yet.

Really? It says Sunday 2pm on the ASB Prem website.

New Zealand Football: Saturday night lights for ASB Premiership Grand Final
April 23, 2012
AUCKLAND � The ASB Premiership Grand Final between Waitakere United and Team Wellington will be played under lights this Saturday night at the Trusts Stadium in Henderson.
Waitakere, chasing a fourth title, booked a finals berth after thrashing Canterbury 5-2 at Christchurch�s ASB Football Park for a 5-3 aggregate semi-final win while Team Wellington added to their 1-0 first leg home win with a 3-1 win at Kiwitea Street to progress to the grand final 4-1 on aggregate.
The final of this season�s national league is the first to be played under lights since the infamous 2007 final won by Auckland City but marred by a horrendous leg-breaking tackle by Waitakere�s Commins Menapi on Riki van Steeden.
The move to Saturday night has been made to allow Saturday morning and afternoon footballers in the Auckland region to attend the match, while avoiding a clash with Sunday�s first leg of the OFC Champions League final featuring Auckland City.
Kick off for the match is at 7.35pm
Saturday 28 April, 2012

Tv coverage? Since competing with rugby And league for audience does it mean Nzf/sky won't bother to give it airtime?

Oceanic62012-04-23 19:12:08

More chance of a web stream? If ofc can do it...

Pain in but.

Hilights from Sunday:

That yellow in the 2nd half could have easily been a red.

Hogg's tackle on his rival for an Olympic spot (looks like it's Rowe) ?

oh and, ohhh Mully.

The last two goals look like they were scored because Auckland were pushing forward looking for goals. If we can get an early goal on Saturday our chances of winning will get much higher.

What an obvious thing to say

Awesome work from the two posts.

Hard News the tackle is on Lucas #10 its clear to see that, not sure how you cant identify players in your own side.
Im picking Wellington to win it(the final). Looked like a much improved side.