Royals, Wānaka win tight Cup encounters

Otago Daily Times

15-06-2025

The Dunedin City Royals and Wānaka have emerged victorious in thrillers to advance to the Chatham Cup's round of 16.
Wānaka held their nerve in a penalty shootout, beating Otago University 3-2, having finished extra time in Dunedin with the score at 0-0.
Wānaka settled quicker and Louis Wickremesekera created the first chance on 10 minutes, when Marcus Simmons-Godinet was clear through, but University keeper Hayden Cooper dived bravely at his feet to save.
Five minutes later Cooper again saved a strong Jake Thompson header.
Midway through the first half University's first chance fell to Blake Allison — but with the goal at his mercy he blazed over the bar.
Just after the half-hour mark Wānaka were dispossessed in their own half and Allison sprinted away, forcing Wānaka keeper Josh Shackleton to parry away his strong shot.
University Skipper Flynn Crocker was yellow-carded for a cynical foul on the edge of the penalty box, but was adjudged not to be the last man, so was lucky not to see red.
Both teams had chances in the second half, but were able to cancel each other out defensively, sending the game to extra time at 0-0.
From there chances were at a premium, and neither team was able to connect on those that did come.
With both teams not having their shooting boots on, it was no surprise that three of the first six shots were missed as the match went to penalties.
Wānaka held their nerve to win the penalty shootout 3-2.
In the evening match the Dunedin City Royals snuck two late goals past Northern to claim an extra time win at the Caledonian Ground.
Luca Mandich and Nick Treadwell could not quite finish on early opportunities for Northern, before the Royals settled and had multiple chances through the middle of the first half.
Northern responded with their best chance in the 38th minute, when both Treadwell and Rory Hibbert attacked the same freekick in the box.
The Royals controlled more possession and created chances through the second half and nearly snatched it with two minutes to play when Connor Neil's shot hit the woodwork.
The Royals continued press in extra time, but were unable to finish, and it was not until the second half of extra time they broke the deadlock.
Jack bent his shot past Northern keeper Eli Urwin to make it 1-0 in the 112nd minute.
Northern nearly equalised in the last minute, when Hibbert just failed to get a touch as the ball was played across.
They pushed everyone forward for a corner, but the ball was cleared to Neil, who shot from 50m.
While that was saved by desperate defence, Jack Julian finished after one of his surging runs to make the game safe.
In the other South Island Chatham Cup matches, Christchurch United beat Cashmere Technical 3-1 and Nelson Suburbs overcame Ferrymead Bays 5-3 in extra time.
— Neville Watson