Waitakere United returned to winning form to give themselves the perfect lift ahead of this week's O-League match in Tahiti. But with Auckland City also picking up points, albeit hard-earned in edging Canterbury United 2-1, it was business as usual at the top of the New Zealand FootballChampionship.
City were in a no-win situation on their trip south. Pitted against the strugglers at the bottom of the table, anything but a crushing win would be seen as a sub-par effort.
In the end, they got home 2-1. Korean thunderboot Ki-Hyung Lee got them started with a ripping freekick in the 25th minute. Alex Feneridis then headed home a great Paul Urlovic cross for 2-0 before halftime.
The never-say-die southerners battled away and were rewarded in the 61st minute when Michael Fifii scored.
The win leaves City three points clear at the top over arch-rivals Waitakere who beat Hawkes Bay United 5-0 on Saturday.
Led by an Allan Pearce hat-trick, which included two penalties, Waitakere took their goal tally for the season to 40 with an impressive plus-29 differential. From the time Benjamin Totori got the home side started with his 15th minute goal, Hawkes Bay were struggling. Two Pearce goals before the break had Waitakere comfortably clear at halftime. Second-half goals to Daniel Kopricvic and Pearce , sealed the win.
Third-placed Team Wellington made hard work of their 1-0 home win over Otago United. The game was settled in the 74th by Steve Gully.
"There won't be too many teams that will get points off Otago in the run in to the end of the season," said Team Wellington coach Stu Jacobs.
In Hamilton, Waikato FC came from behind to beat YoungHeart Manawatu 3-2 and leapfrog them into fifth place.
Gouzalo Neres gave the visitors their 19th minute lead. Aaron Scott equalised 11 minutes later and Steven Holloway gave the home side the halftime lead right on the break. Prince Quansah got Manawatu back to 2-2 early in the second spell but the final say was with Holloway who converted the 74th minute winner from the spot.
