Wellington Olympic have won the Chatham Cup for the first time in 15 years after defeating Auckland City on penalties.
Olympic goalkeeper Scott Basalaj saving the crucial fifth spot kick to claim the trophy in a tightly contested game for the first 75 minutes.
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Auckland City looked 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.
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 Olympic the lead.
An intense 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, but both were ruled out.
A minute later, Auckland City FC finally scored through Stipe Ukich, 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 raptures.
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 take back-to-back Chatham Cup titles with two different clubs, after his Christchurch United team won the 2023 competition.
Wellington Olympic 1 (Nathan Lobo 77’ (OG)) Auckland City FC 1 (Stipe Ukich 90+6'). HT: 0-0, FT: 1-1, AET: 1-1. Wellington Olympic win 5-4 on penalties
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