Central Malaita Student Association Blog Site: SCRAPPY WAITAKERE DO ENOUGH TO EARN O-LEAGUE TITLE AGAINST BA FC

30/04/07

It might not have been a $1 million dollar performance but a 1-0 victory for Waitakere United over Fijian champions Ba was enough to secure the first O-League title for the West Auckland club at Mt Smart Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The final finished 2-2 on aggregate but Commins Menapi’s away goal in Waitakere’s 2-1 defeat in the first leg in Fiji last week proved decisive.Waitakere finished the game with nine men after George Suri received his marching orders in the 51st minute for a second yellow card offence and Craig Wylie was shown a second yellow card for time wasting in the 94th minute.

Ironically Waitakere got the all important goal four minutes after Suri’s sending off with Allan Pearce heading home from close range after Daniel Koprivcic headed Jeff Campbell’s free kick back across goal for an unmarked Pearce to nod home.The win more than made up for Waitakere’s defeat in the NZFC final against Auckland earlier this month and ensured a guaranteed payday of NZ$670,000 for Waitakere and a playoff against the Japanese J-League champions for a place at the FIFA World Club Championships in Japan later this year.

Ba will rue a host of missed chances in the opening half as Michael Utting pulled off some miraculous saves to keep his side in the game.Utting also denied Ba an equaliser just three minutes after Waitakere had gone in front when he produced a superb point blank save from a Vakatalesau header.Vakatalesau was also denied by Utting just before the half time break, the Ba midfielder’s half volley from a knockdown by Tiwa looked to be heading for the top left hand corner but Utting managed to get a hand to it. Ba could have been 3-0 up at the break with Turagalailai toe poking his shot just wide of Utting's left hand post after a great counter attack by the Fijians midway through the half.

Allan Pearce was the goal scoring hero for Waitakere in the second half but he saved his side in the first half when he cleared Malakai Kainihewe's looping header off the line after 24 minutes.

Ba continued to dominate at the start of the second half, roared on by a crowd of over 8,000, but as soon as they went behind they seemed to lose all confidence in themselves.Still Waitakere had to wait until the 88th minute for their first corner of the game, a clear indication of the few attacking chances created by Steve Cain's side.

All credit to Waitakere though who started the game without three of their first team regulars - Danny Hay, Rupesh Puna and Jakub Sinkora all ruled out through injury.Sam Jasper, Craig Wylie and Pedro Santos replaced the injured trio while another of Waitakere's walking wounded, Graham Pearce played a starring role in the centre of defence.

Waitakere United 1 (Allan Pearce 55)Ba 0Halftime: 0-0

Waitakere United: Michael Utting, Craig Wylie, George Suri, Graham Pearce, Sam Jasper, Hoani Edwards, Pedro Santos, Jeff Campbell, Allan Pearce, Commins Menapi, Daniel Koprivcic, Substitutes: Simon Eaddy, Hone Fowler, Danny Hay, Michael Gwyther, Rupesh Puna, Jakub Sinkora, Prince Quansah.

Ba: Laisenia Tuba, Shalen Lal, Roneel Kumar, Jone Vesikula, Josaia Bukalidi, Robert Wise, Peni Finau, Kiniviliame Turagalailai, Osea Vakatalesau, Malakai Tiwa, Malakai Kainihewe.Substitutes: Epeli Codro, Avinesh Swamy, Keni Doidoi, Ronald Chandra, Luke Vidovi, Leone Vurukania, Niumaia Tagi.

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