Wellington Olympic have won the Chatham Cup for the first time in 15 years, defeating Auckland City FC on penalties with goalkeeper Scott Basalaj saving the crucial fifth spot kick to claim the trophy.

The game was a tightly contested affair for the first 75 minutes, with Auckland City FC looking to control possession but Wellington Olympic happy to sit back and play on the break. 

Olympic had the best of the chances in the first half, going close in the 28th minute after a great run and shot from Edward Wilkinson which went just over the bar. 

It was Wellington again that created the better opportunities in the second half with Jonty Roubos showing brilliant close control to turn and shoot from a corner, but Conor Tracey in the Auckland City FC net was equal to it, producing an excellent save to keep it goalless. 

As the game went on Auckland’s possession started to turn into chances with Joe Lee hitting the crossbar in the best of their opportunities. 

In the 77th minute the breakthrough finally came as an expertly placed cross from substitute Isa Prins deflected off Auckland City FC defender Nathan Lobo into the back of the net to give Wellington Olympic the lead.

Suddenly a tight game came alive with both sides trading chances. 

A crazy two minutes late in injury time saw both teams scoring disallowed goals, firstly through Auckland City FC’s Derek Tieku, and then on the counter Isa Prins for Wellington Olympic, but both were ruled out. 

But a minute later, Auckland City FC finally got their goal. 

Stipe Ukich, a threat throughout and later awarded the Jack Batty Trophy for player of the match, found himself free in the box and powered a precise header into the back of the net to take the game to extra time and send the Auckland City FC fans in the crowd into rapture. 

Extra time saw both teams continue to create chances but neither could add to their tally seeing the game go to penalties. 

After nine converted kicks, Wellington Olympic keeper Scott Basalaj guessed right and saved the crucial penalty to take the title to the capital. 

The win sees Wellington Olympic head coach Paul Ifill win back-to-back Chatham Cup titles with two different clubs, after his Christchurch United team won the 2023 competition.

FT

Wellington Olympic – 1 (77’ OG)
Auckland City FC – 1 (90+6 Stipe Ukich)

Wellington Olympic win 5:4 on penalties

Article added: Saturday 07 September 2024