Veteran striker Keryn Jordan once again led the way with a second-half brace to follow the hat-trick he scored during Auckland’s 7-2 win over the Solomon Islanders in Honiara last weekend. With eight goals for the season, Jordan was awarded the 2009 O-League Golden Boot trophy after the match.
While it was all smiles for Auckland coach Poal Posa and his players, Koloale could walk away with their heads high after a competitive performance in front of the 1250 Kiwitea faithful.
After a slow start to the match which saw few chances fall to either team, former Auckland player Henry Fa’arado got the visitors out in front with a curling shot in the 40th minute that caught Jacob Spoonley off guard – the Auckland goalkeeper only managing to palm the ball into the top of his own net.
The goal seemed to spark life into Auckland with Milos Nikolic and Grant Young going close just before halftime.
Jordan came on in the 50th minute and almost had the equaliser with his first touch of the ball but his five-yard header from a Nikolic cross sailed just over the bar. Five minutes later Grant Young was fouled inside the box by Fa’arodo and Jordan made no mistake of the penalty.
The super-sub then scored his second in quick succession when he headed home at the back post off a Ki-Hyung Lee corner on 58 minutes.
Two minutes later Fa’arodo made a weaving run down the right flank and sent in a low cross for Lency Saeni to volley in the equaliser.
Koloale continued attacking and enjoyed extended periods of possession during the second half but Auckland’s defence held strong. The home side were then unlucky not to get an injury-time winner when the ball fell to Riki van Steeden inside the box but his shot blasted the side netting.
Despite the draw, Paul Posa was happy with the performance and is pleased the club can now look forward to representing Oceania at FIFA’s pinnacle club competition.
“Up until this point it’s been if we do this and if we do that, but now it’s reality,” said Posa.
“The FIFA Club World Cup is a huge incentive – it raises the standards and it’s incredibly good for Oceania. This is what every club wants.
“And the victory is especially sweet for those guys who are coming to the end of their career,” he said, referring to players like Jordan and Young.
The FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009 will be held from 9-19 December and consist of seven teams competing over the course of eight matches in Abu Dhabi’s two largest stadiums; Zayed Sports City Stadium which seats approximately 50,000 and Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium which has a capacity of around 42,000.
Auckland will earn a 50 percent share of the minimum US$500,000 prize money.
It is the second time Auckland will compete in the FIFA Club World Cup after they made the
2009 O-LEAGUE FINAL (2nd LEG)
Match: Koloale FC [SOL] vs. Auckland City FC [NZL]
Date: Sunday 3 May 2009
Venue: Auckland, New Zealand
Stadium: Kiwitea Street
Kick Off: 14h05 (Local time)
Referee: Norbert HAUATA [TAH]
Assistant Referee: Tevita MAKASINI [TON]
Assistant Referee: Mahit CHILIA [VAN]
Fourth Official: Averii JACQUES [TAH]
Auckland City FC: Keryn JORDAN 56’ 58’
Koloale FC: Henry FA’ARODO 40’, Lency SAENI 60’
Halftime: 0-1
Yellow cards: 13. Alex FENERIDIS 39’
Estimated crowd: 1250
Auckland City FC: 3.Matt FRIEL, 4. Sam CAMPBELL, 5. Matt WILLIAMS, 6. Ki-Hyung LEE (21. Riki VAN STEEDEN 90’), 7. James PRITCHETT, 9. Paul URLOVIC (14. Keryn JORDAN 50’), 10. Grant YOUNG (23. Liam MULROONEY 86’), 12. Jacob SPOONLEY (GK), 13. Alex FENERIDIS, 15. Ivan VICELICH, 24. Milos NIKOLIC
Coach: Paul POSA
Substitutes not used: 1. John FLETCHER (GK), 22. Xavi ROCA, 26. Jonathan RAJ
Koloale FC: 2. Welshman HOUKARAWA, 3. Jeffrey BULE, 5. Richard ANISUA, 6. Timothy JOE, 13. Lency SAENI, 14. Nicholas MURI, 15. Mostyn BEUI, 16. Joses NAWO, 18. Henry KOTO, 19. Henry Fa’arodo, 20. Shadrack RAMONI (GK)
Coach: Luke EROI
Substitutes not used: 1. Zantas KABINI, 8. Peter TALOGA, 10. Ezra SALE, 26. Kluivert DAGI, 30. Tony OTINI
2009 O-League Golden Boot:
8 – Keryn JORDAN (Auckland City FC)
4 – Paul URLOVIC (Auckland City FC)
3 – Chad COOMBES (Auckland City FC)
3 – Roy KRISHNA (Waitakere United)
3 – Paul SEAMAN (Waitakere United)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Priscilla Duncan
Oceania Football Confederation
Media & Communications
T: +649 526 5651
F: +649 525 8164
M:+64 (0)21 884 018
E: [email protected]
Joel Tiller
Oceania Football Confederation
Media & Communications
T: +649 526 5654
F: +649 525 8164
M:+64 (0)21 994 520
E: [email protected]