April 4, 2010

AUCKLAND – Waitakere United and Canterbury United have will clash in the final of the Lion Foundation Youth League next weekend after comfortably winning their respective semif finals this weekend.

The tops seeds from the Northern and Southern Conference made the most of home advantage in cross-conference semi finals with Waitakere blitzing Team Wellington 6-2 at Olympic Park in Auckland on Friday and Canterbury firing three unanswered goals past Auckland-Manukau at Christchurch’s English Park on Sunday.

The meeting will be a repeat of the 2008 final and since both teams finished top of their conference, the venue for the final will be determined by a coin toss early next week.

Waitakere’s contingent of players with NZFC experience were to the fore in their semi final, none more so than striker Dakota Lucas who netted a first half hat trick.

Ryan de Vries (pictured) also scored early as the host rocketed to a 4-0 half time lead. Jade Messias slotted a second half penalty and Zane Sole added a sixth goal three minutes from time sandwiched by two consolation goals to Ben Hopkins.

Canterbury were also quick out of the blocks thanks to Ben Harris’ third minute goal while Kanta Yamamoto doubled the lead just before halftime. A goal from Sam Miles rounded out the win midway through the second spell.

Semi-finals

Friday
Waitakere United 6 (Dakota Lucas 4, 18, 45; Ryan De Vries 7, Jade Mesias 47-pen, Zane Sole 87)
Team Wellington 2 (Ben Hopkins 85, 90+1)
Halftime: 4-0

Sunday
Canterbury United 3 (Ben Harris 3, Ken Yamamoto 45, Sam Miles 68)
Auckland-Manukau 0
Halftime: 2-0

Next Week
Lion Foundation Youth League Final:
Waitakere United v Canterbury United
Date tbc
Venue to be determined by coin toss