Auckland City 3
Team Wellington 1
Auckland City are heading for a season-defining clash this Saturday against Waitakere United.
City had too much class for Team Wellington at Kiwitea St yesterday, while Brent Fisher's last-second strike against YoungHeart Manawatu sealed three points for United.
While Manawatu coach Bob Sova was justifiably feeling he had been robbed by Fisher's stoppage time winner, Wellington's Stu Jacobs was more philosophical in conceding that they had been undone by a strong second-half effort.
So, the Auckland rivals will now turn up at Fred Taylor Park locked at the top on 19 points but with City having two games in hand and a vastly superior goal difference. And the advantage of having won the earlier clash 2-1. City wasted no time in putting their collective feet on Team Wellington throats yesterday.
They had a chance inside two minutes and went ahead in the 12th when Matt Williams played a superbly-angled ball to Jason Hayne who caught the defence napping in popping up at the far post where, from an acute angle, he hit home. Down, but far from out, the visitors were rewarded in the 33rd minute when City goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley let his concentration wander. He was embarrassingly dispossessed by lanky Wellington striker Greg Draper who turned the ball deftly into the City goal for a deserved equaliser.
The defining moment came nine minutes into the second spell when substitute Grant Young, on at the break for the dazed Daniel Kopricvic, ran on to a super long ball from Ivan Vicelich and slipped his shot low past goalkeeper James Bannatyne.
Six minutes from time Ki-Hyung Lee found his range, and top left of the Wellington goal, with a superbly-struck 25m freekick - his first goal since City's first NZFC game of the season - to end any comeback hopes Wellington might have entertained.
"We played better than we did against them last time but lost by more," said Jacobs. "I don't think we did enough in the second half to win."
City coach Paul Posa was pleased with the win but complemented Wellington.
"We haven't had to work this hard since the win over Waitakere. They had a plan to pressure us and a lot of the time they did. They will be disappointed not to get something."
Fisher scored first and last for Waitakere but there were plenty of anxious moments in between as Manawatu took a 2-1 lead in the 52nd minute.
Tim Myers got the home side back to 2-2 with 13 minutes to play. Fisher, 20 seconds after the end of the five minutes added time, broke Manawatu hearts with his last-gasp winner.
Elsewhere 10-man Waikato won for only the second time this season - 1-0 at home to Canterbury United - and Otago United held on to win by the same score at home over Hawkes Bay United.
