KEY POINTS:
A gutsy 1-1 away draw over arch-rivals Auckland City kept Waitakere United at the top of the New Zealand Football Championship but a dramatic comeback from YoungHeart Manawatu, who stormed back from 0-3 to win in Napier, denied them the chance to all but wrap up the league
race.
After finishing 1-1 at Kiwitea St in another of the tense battles which have become the norm between the local combatants, Waitakere's hopes were high as nearest challengers Manawatu, forced to play a home game away, trailed 0-3 at halftime before turning things around to win 4-3.
It could have been worse for Waitakere.
A goal down inside six minutes when Grant Young headed home a Bryan Little cross, but back to 1-1 22 minutes later when Daniel Koprivcic tapped home, Waitakere had Hone Fowler sent off in the 38th minute.
Forced to readjust, Waitakere retrenched and rode the storm.
They had a golden opportunity to snatch the lead but Hoani Edwards muffed his attempt from point-blank range. Their despair grew when, 16 minutes later, linesman Jan Hintz ruled against a White tackle on James Pritchett and referee Michael Hester, who had already dished out eight cards, pointed to the spot.
Much to the agony of the City faithful, Young blasted his shot on to the crossbar.
Even under that pressure, Waitakere gave the home side little, with outstanding play from central defenders George Suri and Danny Hay.
The draw represented Waitakere's best on-field result against their fierce rivals. They had lost seven of their previous eight encounters and had the other awarded to them when a 0-1 loss was reversed on appeal.
"With 10 men we did very well," said Waitakere coach Steve Cain, who justified his call to sideline livewire Michael White for the first 45 minutes by saying he is still not match fit after his mandatory stand-down on leaving the New Zealand Knights.
"We deserved at least a point."
Like others, he questioned some flying tackles which Hester shrugged off.
City coach Paul Marshall conceded his players had found it difficult against 10-man United.
"It was one-way traffic," said Marshall. "But we missed too many chances to seriously threaten. Once they went a player down they played just one up front and defended with four in the midfield and four at the back. That made it difficult."
There will be little respite for the Auckland teams who now face O-League clashes with New Caledonia's AS Mont Dore tomorrow (Waitakere at Fred Taylor Park) and Friday (City at Kiwitea St).
In Saturday's game in Christchurch, Canterbury United came back from 0-2 to draw 2-2 with Otago. Second-half goals from George Barbarouses and Karl Whelan earned Team Wellington a 2-0 home win over Waikato FC in the third of yesterday's games.