Tracey downplays penalty heroics

Words: ACFC Media

Wednesday 14 July 2021

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Conor Tracey wants another crack at playing in front of a big Chatham Cup crowd after last Sunday's epic cup tie against Birkenhead United.

Tracey saved three out of four of Birkenhead United's penalties, knocking away spot kicks by Sam Burfoot, Nathan Lobo and Josh Turner to help earn the Navy Blues a 3-1 spot kick win.

It was the fourth win via a penalty shoot out in the club's history following on from FIFA Club World Cup shoot out wins over Moghreb Tetouan and Cruz Azul in 2014, and an OFC Champions League shoot out win over Team Wellington in 2015.

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Two of the club's goalkeeping legends, Tamati Williams and Jacob Spoonley, have each made critical saves in famous wins at the FIFA Club World Cup, but neither they, nor any of their predecessors have saved three in one game, albeit at a less rarified stage.

Tracey, as ever, maintained a calm analysis of what transpired on Sunday.

"I'm pretty happy I managed to guess which way their kickers were going to go each time.

"My stats when I was at school for penalty saves were something like a 60 percent save ratio and 92 percent guessing the right way.

"I haven't had that sort of luck for a while but I'm very happy to have that ratio back and save three today," he said.

Birkenhead United made Auckland City FC work hard for their victory and Tracey acknowledged their quality and determination as he looked back on key moments in the match.

"For a team to come back from 2-0 down to go 3-2 up is credit to Birkenhead United - that by itself is an incredible feat.

THE PENALTY SHOOT OUT

Birkenhead v Auckland City - Chatham Cup (Penalty Shootout) https://t.co/XXOPDHdQmy
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) July 11, 2021

"We went a man down towards the end they had us up against the wall but I thought it was great the way we managed to play after that setback.

"From a spectator point of view it must've been a fantastic game to watch.

"I didn't really think about what each penalty meant or whether it was the possible winning penalty or not, I sort of just go with each kick as we went along and once I saw the team running at me that's when I realised we had won the game," he said.

With the draw for the quarter-finals revealing a mouthwatering trip to Wellington to face Miramar Rangers, Tracey wasn't too perturbed by the draw and instead hoped for more exciting games with an edgy atmosphere.

"I didn''t have any preferences for the next round draw, I just hope its another great game and great atmosphere like we had on Sunday.

"Of course, we want to go through, and ideally you want a so-called "easier draw" but at the end of the day, a crowd makes football special and if we get a similar atmosphere in Wellington that would be incredible.

"Playing at Shepherds Park in front of that size of crowd was an enjoyable experience."

Ends

CHATHAM CUP QUARTER-FINAL DRAW

1-2 August, 2021
Miramar Rangers v Auckland City FC
North Shore United v Otago University
Western Suburbs v Melville United
Hamilton Wanderers v Cashmere Technical

AUCKLAND CITY FC: PENALTY SHOOT OUT HISTORY

Charity Cup Final
19 October 2014
Kiwitea Street
v. Team Wellington (H) drew 2-2*
*Lost 4-3 on penalties

Team Wellington
Cole Peverley - Goal
Alex Feneridis - Goal
Cory Chettleburgh - Saved (Jacob Spoonley)
Michael Gwyther - Goal
Luis Corrales - Goal

Auckland City FC
Emiliano Tade - Saved (Michael O'Keefe)
Andrew Milne - Goal
John Irving - Goal
Cam Lindsay - Miss
Tim Payne - Goal

FIFA Club World Cup
10 December 2014
Rabat, Morocco
v. Moghreb Tetouan (A) drew 0-0*
*Won 4-3 on penalties

Moghreb Tetouan
Jahouh - Saved (Tamati Williams)
Krouch - Goal
Fall - Goal
Naim - Goal
Khallati - Miss (Post)

Auckland City FC
Tim Payne - Goal
John Irving - Goal
Darren White - Goal
Mario Bilen - Saved (Mohamed El Yousfi)
Sanni Issa - Goal

FIFA Club World Cup
20 December, 2014
Marrakesh, Morocco
v. Cruz Azul (N) drew 1-1*
*Won 4-2 on penalties

Cruz Azul
Giminez - Goal
Formica - Miss
Rodriguez - Goal
Valadez - Saved (Jacob Spoonley)

Auckland City FC
Tim Payne - Goal
John Irving - Miss (Crossbar)
Darren White - Goal
James Pritchett - Goal
Sanni Issa - Goal

OFC Champions League Final
26 April, 2015
Suva, Fiji
v. Team Wellington (N) drew 1-1*
*Won 4-3 on penalties

Team Wellington
Alex Feneridis - Goal
Luis Corrales - Saved (Tamati Williams)
Cole Peverley - Goal
Justin Gulley - Goal
Ian Hogg - Miss