Team wellington move into 2nd place

Team wellington move into 2nd place

Sunday March 30, 2008, 18:30
Otago-1
Wellington-3

Team Wellington have moved into second spot in the New Zealand Football Championship after this afternoon�s 3-1 win over Otago United at Newtown Park and given themselves every opportunity of securing a home semi final.

A draw is all Team Wellington needs in their final round robin match of the season in Auckland next weekend. A loss in that match and Wellington will surrender home advantage in the semi final to the Aucklanders.

This afternoon�s match didn�t start well for a side that had gone six matches unbeaten and without conceding a goal. Otago defender Colin Falvey destroyed Wellington�s recent run with a powerful header from a seventh minute corner. It was the first goal conceded by Wellington keeper Phil Imray in 581 minutes of football and for the next few minutes it seemed to have knocked the confidence out of Wellington.

With a much rearranged line up due to suspension and injury it was hardly a surprise that Wellington started the game slowly. Apart from that first ten minutes though the rest of the half belonged to Wellington. In fact they dominated so much that they practically set up camp in Otago�s half and the visitors found it hard to get time on the ball.

In spite of the possession though, Wellington found it hard to break down a resilient Otago defence until a breathtaking piece of skill by Luis Corrales with just four minutes remaining in the half. Chesting the ball down on the edge of Otago�s area, Corrales turned and thumped a screamer into the top corner of Otago�s goal. So breathtaking was the effort that Liam Little in Otago�s goal hardly moved.

The second half was only a minute old and it was game over. Daniel Ellensohn found space in the Otago box and hit his effort wide of Little into the corner of the net. Otago felt hard done by, believing a push had gone unnoticed.

In fact Stu Jacobs� halftime substitution seemed to turn the game. Sam Blackburn came on for Michael Eager and his pace and fast feet on the left flank caused Otago problems from the off.

However at 2-1 it�s always a slender lead and a header from Otago�s Andy Coburn with just six minutes remaining was cleared off the line.

Two minutes later and any hope Otago had of scrambling a draw evaporated when Andy Pickering, who had come on as a second half sub half hour previously, was shown a second yellow card on the word of the assistant referee and he headed for the showers.

Corrales had the final say when he outpaced the Otago defence and ran half the length of the field before rounding Little and scoring his second and Wellington�s third in the 90th minute.

It was a confidence boosting effort for Wellington and continued a seven match unbeaten run that has brought them 20 goals while conceding just once.

Jacobs says today�s result was never in doubt.

�It was comprehensive. I was disappointed with the goal as we work hard on responsibilities in that area and it�s up to individuals to pick up their players.�

Otago assistant coach Mike Fridge wasn�t happy with Wellington�s second goal.

�The second goal killed us. We thought it was a free kick for a push on one of our players but that turned the match.�

�Up until then I thought we had competed well. We got a great goal and then we had our backs to the wall but really Wellington didn�t create much until just before halftime when the lad scored a good goal.�

�But I can�t criticise the commitment of my team. On a heavy pitch we competed well. Sure we made mistakes but on the whole the players ran themselves into the ground,� said Fridge.

Wellington coach Jacobs says his side won�t be heading north next week to play for a draw.

�I don�t think this group of players could play for a draw. We�ll be putting the best team out on the park and going for the three points. But it�s nice to know that you don�t have to win and it gives you that breathing space.� HK_Keeper2008-03-30 21:24:57