Football: Tech into semis after upset win

Dunedin Technical midfielder Mike Cunningham looks to have scored past Miramar Rangers keeper...
Dunedin Technical midfielder Mike Cunningham looks to have scored past Miramar Rangers keeper Dylan Hall but the ball was deflected by a retreating defender. Dunedin Technical went on to win the Chatham Cup quarterfinal 2-1 at the Caledonian Ground yesterday afternoon. Photo by Jane Dawber.
Dunedin Technical needed just 9min to breach Miramar Rangers' supposedly impregnable defence and pave the way for an upset in the quarterfinal of the Chatham Cup at the Caledonian Ground yesterday afternoon.

The Wellington-based side had not conceded a goal in eight matches but was left stunned after a brilliant effort by midfielder Andy Coburn.

The home side went on to win the match 2-1 but has to wait until the draw is made tomorrow morning to find out who it will play in the semifinals and where the match will be held. The semifinals are scheduled for the third weekend in August.

Technical coach Mike Fridge is hoping his side's luck holds and it secures a home venue when the draw is made. He was pleased with the way his side had recovered from a 5-2 drubbing at the hands of Caversham in the Soccersouth premier league last weekend.

"I'm absolutely delighted, especially after last week against Caversham," Fridge said.

"What a difference seven days can make in football. The world was on top of us last week but we bounced back and I thought the boys were magnificent.

"Miramar are a good side. They're at the top of their league and they don't concede many goals, and they've got quality players, so it is a fantastic result for the club."

Miramar had been in irrepressible form. Unbeaten in the Central League and with a formidable back four, the North Island side was expected to be too strong for Dunedin Technical.

But the home side played some masterful football in the opening stanza. It pushed forward at every opportunity and caught Miramar napping.

The visiting side travelled to Dunedin on the morning of the match and had three hours of waiting around, and it showed.

The game's first goal came from a crisply struck penalty kick by Ross McKenzie. Miramar keeper Dylan Hall made the first of many superb saves but the deflection broke for Mike Flaws, who delivered a pin-point cross into Coburn. He won the battle in the air, heading the ball into the right corner.

Technical kept up the pressure with a series of assaults on the Miramar goal.

Coburn intercepted a pass and made a run up the left flank, feeding a nice ball forward for McKenzie, who drew another dazzling save.

The keeper thrust out a left leg and arm and steered the ball wide of the goal.

Disappointment for Tech soon turned to delight when striker Richard Smith nodded in another fine cross.

The first 30min had been all the home team.

"We knew they had a flight and were coming straight to the ground, so our plan was to take the game to them early doors. We knew the first 15-20min would be crucial. We got two goals and I think that probably gave them a wee bit of a shake," Fridge said.

Miramar coach Graham Little said his side was flat.

"We lost the game in the first 20min," he said. "I take my hat off to Dunedin, they put us under a lot of pressure and we didn't respond to that, and started the game very poorly."

Little blamed his side's mindset for the sluggish beginning and said the early goal rocked his team.

"We did look a bit stunned for the first 20min but we got ourselves back in the game."

With Technical seemingly in control Miramar increased the tempo and started to dominate both possession and territory.

Technical bunched in defence and looked as though it was playing to protect its lead and get to the break without conceding a goal.

Nik Tromp found room down the right wing and fired a shot wide. The visiting side kept the pressure on Tech and a goal seemed inevitable. Fittingly, it was Tromp who scored.

The speedy forward freed himself of his marker and speared in a header which deflected off a defender and into the goal.

Spurred by the late first-half goal, Miramar had the better of the early exchanges in the second spell, but the longer the game went on the more it appeared that Technical was heading for the semifinals.

Fridge made some substitutions early in the second half, with Mike Cunningham replacing Flaws and experienced striker Aaron Burgess spelling Richard Smith. Both substituted men left the field with their heads held high after making crucial contributions.

Cunningham almost scored with his first touch. He sliced a shot wide towards the goal but a retreating defender got his body in the way and the deflection bounced off the post and was scooped up by a relieved keeper.

Miramar had opportunities to score an equaliser. Striker Dominic Rowe made some classy touches and Craig Alderdice headed the ball over the crossbar.

David Batty put some testing long balls forward and a desperate scramble in Technical's goalmouth in the final minutes almost sent the game into extra time.

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