Team goes from outhouse to penthouse

Team Wellington coach Stu Jacobs will relish the opportunity to make amends for last season's capitulation when they play Waitakere United over two legs in the New Zealand Football Championship semifinals.

The final four placings were decided yesterday, with Auckland City sealing top spot with a game in hand following a 3-1 win against Canterbury United in Christchurch.

Daniel Koprivcic and Paul Urlovic scored late goals for 10-man Auckland, who will face fourth-placed Canterbury across two legs in one semifinal.

Waitakere (second) play Wellington (third) in the other semifinal, with the first leg in the capital on April 2 or April 4, and the second leg in Auckland the following weekend.

"We're looking forward to it," Jacobs said yesterday. "Five weeks ago, we were looking at the outhouse, now we're looking at the penthouse."

Wellington fancied their chances of toppling Waitakere last season but were embarrassed in the semifinals. After winning a tightly contested first leg 1-0 in Wellington, the West Aucklanders hammered Wellington 5-0 in Henderson to complete a 6-0 thumping.

Jacobs criticised Waitakere's style of play after the first leg – a move which backfired a week later and one he insists will not be repeated this year. "I'm not going to make the mistake of mouthing off this year and giving them any extra motivation," he laughed.

Waitakere and Wellington have clashed twice this season, for a win each.

Waitakere beat Wellington 2-1 in Auckland in December, while Wellington prevailed 4-3 in Wellington last month.

When asked whether he preferred to play Waitakere or Auckland, Jacobs replied: "Auckland are in great form and I'm not saying Waitakere aren't – they've certainly got some attacking weapons in [Roy] Krishna and [Allan] Pearce – but I just think defensively they are a bit more vulnerable than Auckland.

"We're probably a bit more prepared this year to accept the challenge."

Wellington took three must-win matches on the trot to make the finals, with Jacobs saying: "We just changed our style a bit, and players like [Andy] Barron are stepping up with the playoffs in sight."

He faces a challenge keeping his players match-fit, however, with three weeks between their game against Canterbury on March 14 and the first semifinal.

They will play Central League club Miramar Rangers this Saturday.

"[New Zealand Football] need to look at that, otherwise it's a bit farcical really. We need to keep the boys at a level to play a semi and a three-week break isn't ideal."

- © Fairfax NZ News

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