Don't want to seem churlish but it really was a poor game with low technical standards.Really thought the womens game at club level had developed more than that and recall previous finals had been of a higher standard.
Had to check the composition of the NZ U20's to see how many players missing but only one from Western Springs from what I can tell.
As Doloras said it could have been 3 or 4 nil to Auckland United in the first 20 minutes so Kudos to Springs for hanging in there and pushing it right to the bitter end.
It is great to see teams attempt to play out from the back but Springs persisting with that for the first 20 minutes and placing themselves under immense pressure. Someone should have just got them to play more of the game further up the pitch for a while and settle it down. They were fortunate it didn't result in absolute carnage.
Yes it was an insane last 10 minutes and the wry smile on the Springs players face after the crossbar intervened in injury time was priceless
Not sure about the plans for a womens Club world Cup but if Auckland United went there as Oceania reps then I would be very fearful.
Reasonable crowd - about the same as the later Chatham Cup Final. Springs were well represented
Had to check the composition of the NZ U20's to see how many players missing but only one from Western Springs from what I can tell.
As Doloras said it could have been 3 or 4 nil to Auckland United in the first 20 minutes so Kudos to Springs for hanging in there and pushing it right to the bitter end.
It is great to see teams attempt to play out from the back but Springs persisting with that for the first 20 minutes and placing themselves under immense pressure. Someone should have just got them to play more of the game further up the pitch for a while and settle it down. They were fortunate it didn't result in absolute carnage.
Yes it was an insane last 10 minutes and the wry smile on the Springs players face after the crossbar intervened in injury time was priceless
Not sure about the plans for a womens Club world Cup but if Auckland United went there as Oceania reps then I would be very fearful.
Reasonable crowd - about the same as the later Chatham Cup Final. Springs were well represented
Re: player availability , also have to consider NZSS during the week impacts the available squads as well.
In terms of level, for AU this is their 31st game, for WS, their 26th game, and they still have another 9 or 10 to go! For AU I think their intensity has dropped off, less running off the ball than what there was earlier in the season, and too much shooting from distance. Even their winning goal, as good as it was for the player to hit with their weaker foot on the run, there was a simple ball that was onto Wasi that would have been the higher value option.
Also the ex A-league (3), ex-NZ players (2), and the various overseas players don't stand out as head and shoulders above the rest. I think that with every game in the NRFL being videoed and made available to coaches, this is leading to better defensive organisation and the team in possession being under more pressure every time they have the ball, and this is leading to hurried touches etc