Christchurch United have claimed the Chatham Cup, in the competition’s 100th year, with a 4:2 win on penalties following a 2 - 2 draw against Melville United at North Harbour Stadium.

Christchurch United’s first win since 1991 sees the team go equal top of the all-time Chatham Cup winners list with seven titles, tied with University-Mount Wellington. 

The Southern League champions got off to a dream start after captain Matt Tod-Smith’s cross deflected of Melville’s Lucca Lim into the net to give the Cantabrians the lead in the 11th minute. 

Christchurch United doubled their advantage in the 36th minute with a second own goal from Melville. 

A Christchurch United corner found Jago Godden at the back post and his close-range shot deflected off Melville’s George Brown to make it 2 - 0 at the break. 

Melville United came out strongly in the second half, eager to find a way back into the game. 

The Waikato side continued to have the better of the chances and finally made it count in the 72nd minute. 

Lucca Lim was first to his own rebounded cross to curl his shot into the bottom corner of the Christchurch United net, much to the delight of the predominantly Melville United supporting crowd. 

Melville kept pushing for a second to take the match to extra time but struggled to find the breakthrough. 

With 1 minute left of added time it looked a certainty that the Chatham Cup was heading to Christchurch, until Melville United won a freekick on the outside of the box. 

Goalkeeper Max Tommy headed up the field for one last roll of the dice. 

The freekick deflected off a Christchurch United defender and into the path of the Melville United No. 1 who got his foot to the ball to score and take the game to extra time. 

Cue a huge roar from those in red in the crowd. 

Both teams traded chances in extra time but couldn’t get the winning goal, sending the match to penalties.

Christchurch United converted four of their five spot kicks with captain Matt Tod-Smith scoring the winning penalty and claiming their first Chatham Cup win in over 30 years. 

The Jack Batty trophy for the game’s player of the match was presented to Melville United's goalscoring goalkeeper Max Tommy. 


FINAL SCORE

Melville United - 2 (72’ Lucca Lim, Max Tommy 90+8’)
Christchurch United - 2 (Own Goal 11’, 36’)


PENALTIES 

Melville United - 2
Christchurch United - 4

Article added: Sunday 10 September 2023