As Auckland City climbed to the top of the table with a crushing 5-0 win over Otago United, Waitakere headed in the opposite direction after Canterbury United stunned the previous league leaders 4-0 in Christchurch.
Although level on 16 points, Waitakere slip behind Auckland on goal difference, while Team Wellington who beat YoungHeart Manawatu 2-0 in Palmerston North move into third on 12 points, one ahead of Canterbury. Manawatu and Otago sit just outside the top four with 10 points each, while Hawke’s Bay United stayed in touch with the pack thanks to a 3-0 home win over strugglers Waikato.
Waitakere United’s loss was their biggest ever defeat by a non-Auckland franchise and equalled their biggest ever losing margin in the NZFC since going down to Auckland City 5-1 four years ago. Matt Boyd opened the scoring with a powerful header two minutes before the break and Russell Kamo made it 2-0 courtesy of an Aaron Clapham pass three minutes after the restart. A mishit clearance by Waitakere goalkeeper Danny Robinson allowed Tom Lancaster to fire Canterbury further ahead after 55 minutes.
Waitakere United’s afternoon worsened after striker Roy Krishna was sent off after earning a second caution with twenty minutes left. The perfect day for Canterbury coach Keith Braithwaite was completed when Aaron Clapham’s free-kick hit the post and allowed substitute Sam Miles to bundle the ball from close range. The result sees Canterbury leapfrog both YoungHeart Manawatu and Otago United into fourth place.
Auckland City proved too strong for the visitors after the break as Otago crumbled in the face of a second-half onslaught. Midfielder Matt Williams bagged the first with a long range shot seven minutes into the second half. Auckland piled on the misery for the visitors with a four goal salvo in the final fifteen minutes – strikers Daniel Koprivcic, Grant Young and Paul Urlovic were all on target before All White defender Ivan Vicelich added a fifth in the final minute.
As Otago slipped from fourth to sixth place, Team Wellington continued its ascent toward the play-offs with a 2-0 win over YoungHeart Manawatu. A brace by Greg Draper – his fifth goal in just two games – saw off the home side who had skipper Colin Falvey sent off for deliberate handball after thirty five minutes.
Draper converted calmly from the spot and added a second with a neat close range finish in the 72nd minute. Team Wellington finish the round in third place while YoungHeart’s poor run of form at home sees the Palmerston North-based club slide to fifth place.
Waikato FC’s season of struggle worsened after losing 3-0 to Hawke’s Bay United. Red cards for Waikato FC pair Dan Peat and David Samson condemned Waikato to its seventh defeat of the season and leaves the club firmly at the bottom of the table. A double by in-form Hawke’s Bay United striker Leon Birnie and another from Joachim Rande – his second goal of the season – kept Hawke’s Bay’s play-off hopes alive.
Story courtesy NZF Media
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