AUCKLAND CITY 2
WAIKATO FC 0
KEY POINTS:
Auckland City kept alive their hopes of finishing the regular season top of the table - and claiming the O-League spot that comes with that - with a win over Waikato yesterday.
But for the fans back on home turf at Kiwitea St for the first time this
season, there were frustrations galore before victory was achieved.
It wasn't helped when, in the closing minutes, there was a scuffle between the teams, who both finished a man short.
The win moves Auckland back to the top of the league but with only a game against third-placed Wellington on April 6 to complete their season.
Second-placed Waitakere United play YoungHeart Manawatu today and a win would move them level on points with Auckland but with a better goal difference and two games to play.
Auckland brought back striker Paul Urlovic to join South African sharpshooters Grant Young and Keryn Jordan but in the first half chances went begging.
From the 10th minute, when Jordan blazed wide from a great pass by Young, Auckland squandered chance after chance, or were held at bay by some last-ditch Waikato defending and a couple of brave saves by keeper Danny Robinson. His best were a diving save from a Jordan header and a tip over the bar on halftime from a Ki-Hyung Lee free kick.
Waikato's best chance fell to Aaron Scott but there was little pressure on the Auckland defence.
Auckland's first goal in the 56th minute followed a clever build-up by Young and Jordan, finished expertly by Joel Mathews closing from the left. The second in the 85th minute was a fierce penalty by Lee after substitute John Niyonsaba had been felled by Hone Fowler.
There was only one yellow card in the first half but referee Antony Riley found plenty to complain about in the second, with 10 shown.
Uhlmann received two of those, the second seeing him dismissed for what looked a fair tackle, along with Waikato's Sam Wilkinson, who was off in the last minute of ordinary time after a tackle that brought his second yellow. A number of the players scuffled briefly before order was restored.
Auckland head for Tahiti to play an O-League game against Manu Ura next Saturday and also take on Waitakere in the O-League before their final league game.
Waitakere's route to the playoffs is not without potholes. Today's trip to Palmerston North will bring back bad memories of the controversial defeat the West Aucklanders suffered there on their last visit.
Next Saturday's home game with Hawke's Bay should be more reassuring but for the final round they must travel to Dunedin, where they could manage only a draw with Otago United on their last visit.
Wellington, who have been on something of a roll, will fancy their chances at Newtown Park against Canterbury United today and they are home again next Sunday to Otago. Then comes the crunch game against Auckland at Kiwitea.
In yesterday's other game, Hawke's Bay United needed a late goal to beat Otago 2-1.