Soccer: Auckland complete ASB Premiership unbeaten

Auckland City. Photo / Steven McNicholl.

Auckland City and Canterbury United finished their ASB Premiership regular season campaigns with a 1-1 draw in Christchurch today that preserves both clubs' unique unbeaten records.

Minor premiers Auckland became the first team to complete an entire regular season unbeaten as they racked up 11 wins and three draws from their 14 matches.

Canterbury finished their campaign unbeaten on home turf, notching six wins and a draw.

Russell Kamo opened the scoring at ASB Football Park in the 12th minute, before Angel Berlanga equalised shortly before halftime to ensure the points were shared and the records remained.

With those milestones locked away for posterity, both clubs turn their attention toward next weekend's playoffs, where defending champions Waitakere United lie in wait for red-hot Canterbury and Team Wellington prepare for a tough semifinal showdown with Auckland.

Team Wellington's gave their playoff preparations a boost with a 3-1 win over Hawkes Bay United in the capital. Just one week after lifting the White Ribbon Cup, Wellington kept its hopes of a unique trophy double on track after coming from a goal behind to beat a dogged Hawkes Bay.

Hamish Watson opened the scoring for Hawkes Bay on 18 minutes before Luke Rowe levelled the scores three minutes later. Solomon Islands international Henry Fa'arodo nosed Wellington ahead after finishing off a Dakota Lucas cross 12 minutes into the second half, before netting his second with a sublime solo effort to make it 3-1.

The defeat was Hawkes Bay's first loss to Wellington in the capital in four previous visits and confirmed a fifth place finish for the Chris Greatholder-coached outfit, some seven points adrift of the playoffs.

On Saturday, Waitakere United completed its regular season campaign with a 6-1 win over hapless YoungHeart Manawatu. Waitakere have also had their problems this season, losing eight competitive matches this season, but they enjoyed a relatively easy work out in Whenuapai.

Rory Turner and Allan Pearce notched doubles, with Ryan de Vires and Sean Lovemore also chiming in for the West Aucklanders.

In a horror season, Manawatu became the first club to finish an ASB Premiership campaign winless with a record low points tally of three, one fewer point than they achieved last season. The 61 goals conceded were two shy of the all-time record, but it is easily the worst under the 14-match format.

The ASB Premiership playoffs kick off on April 15 when minor premiers Auckland travel south to face Wellington in the first leg of their semifinal, while defending champions Waitakere take on Canterbury at Fred Taylor Park. The semifinal second legs are scheduled for the weekend of April 21/22.