Auckland United win women's National League
- editor59343
- 3 minutes ago
- 1 min read
New Zealand U20 international Zoe Benson scored the wining goal as Auckland United sealed a third consecutive National League Championship women's title.
United beat arch cross-town rivals Eastern Suburbs 1-0 in the final at Keith Hay Park.
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It was the fifth clash between the two evenly matched sides this season, with several Football Fern internationals in their respective lineups.
While Eastern Suburbs had the better of the early play, they couldn't turn pressure into chances and they paid the price when Benson latched on to a long ball from United captain Talisha Green in the 36th minute.
Benson got ahead of her marker and reacted quickly when her shot was parried by goalkeeper Corina Brown, slotting home in the game's decisive moment in the 36th minute of play.
Eastern Suburbs pushed for an equaliser in the second spell and came closest with 10 minutes to play when defender Yukino Nishizono picked up the ball around 30 metres out and launched a rocket that looked destined for goal but flying just over the crossbar.
Auckland United also won the Kate Sheppard Cup this season as well as the OFC place in the FIFA Women's Champions Cup
