Two of the most-dominant football clubs of the 2000s will meet in the Chatham Cup final next month.
Auckland City, the 2022 winners, and Wellington Olympic won semifinals in contrasting styles on Sunday, and will meet in the knockout competition's showpiece at North Harbour Stadium on September 7.
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Olympic, the four-time defending Central League champions, defeated Coastal Spirit 5-1 at Christchurch's Linfield Park, and City, the three-time reigning Northern League champions, needed extra-time to see off Birkenhead United 4-2 at Kiwitea Street.
Former Wellington Phoenix striker Hamish Watson and midfielder Isa Prins each scored two goals as The Greeks took the lead for good in the 53rd minute, then scored three more times in a 12-minute span.
Coastal's leading scorer Alejandro Steinwascher gave the home side the early lead in the 13th minute, but Watson answered five minutes later.
Jack-Henry Sinclair put Olympic, the 2009 Cup winners and defending NZF National League champions, in the 53rd minute, before Prins netted goals in the 72nd and 83rd minutes, and Watson got his second in the 80th.
The Navy Blues and Birkenhead have exchanged the Northern League lead multiple times this season, and only a fine hat-trick from City striker Angus Kilkolly separated the two clubs in the semifinal.
Kilkolly converted from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute, answering Monty Patterson's 33rd-minute goal, then scored the match-winning and clinching goals in the 99th and 120+4th minutes with expert finishing.
As the rain continued to fall, Ryan de Vries broke the deadlock in the 56th minute from outside the box, before substitute Sam Philip, Birkenhead's offseason addition from Christchurch United, equalised from a goal-mouth scramble in the 68th minute.
After Kilkolly's second in the first half of extra-time, Birkenhead thought they had another equaliser from a header in the 117th minute, but it was ruled out for a foul.
In the women's Kate Sheppard Cup, the last two winners, Auckland United and Western Springs, will meet in the final on September 7.
Western Springs scored three goals early in a 3-0 victory over Dunedin City Royals at Dunedin's Tahuna Park, while United scored two late to escape Lower Hutt with a 2-1 win over the Wellington Phoenix Reserves on Saturday.
Rina Hirano and Liz Savage scored goals in the first five minutes as Springs, the current Cup holders, took a 2-0 lead, with Rebecca Burrows finishing it off in the 24th minute.
In a more even clash at Fraser Park, the Phoenix Reserves took the lead through Georgie Furnell in the 60th minute and looked to be on their way to the final until the closing minutes.
But Saskia Vosper scored the equaliser in the 88th minute on a harmless cross that evaded everyone in the box, then Estelle Harrison sent United, the 2022 Cup winners, into the final in the eighth minute of added-time after the Nix Reserves gave the ball away in their own area.
Both finals will be played at North Harbour Stadium on September, with the Kate Sheppard Cup final at 4pm and Chatham Cup final at 7pm.
CHATHAM CUP RESULTS - SEMIFINALS
Linfield Park, Christchurch
Wellington Olympic 5 (Hamish Watson 18', 80', Isa Prins 72', 83', Jack-Henry Sinclair 53') Coastal Spirit 1 (Alejandro Steinwascher 13'). HT: 1-1
Kiwitea Street, Auckland
Auckland City 4 (Angus Kilkolly 43', 99', 120+4', Ryan de Vries 56') Birkenhead United 2 (Monty Patterson 33', Sam Philip 68'). HT: 1-1
KATE SHEPPARD CUP RESULTS - SEMIFINALS
Tahuna Park, Dunedin
Western Springs 3 (Rina Hirano 3', Liz Savage 5', Rebecca Burrows 24') Dunedin City Royals 0. HT: 3-0
Fraser Park, Lower Hutt
Auckland United 2 (Saskia Vosper 88', Estelle Harrison 90+8') Wellington Phoenix Reserves 1 (Georgie Furnell 60'). HT: 0-0