Soccer: Dreams alive after draw

Waitakere United's Danny Robinson.

An 86th-minute own goal has kept Waitakere United's OFC Champions League dreams alive after they drew 1-1 with the Solomon Warriors in Fiji yesterday.

Waitakere must now win their final Group A match against table-topping Tahitian side AS Pirae on Tuesday to have any chance of qualifying for the home-and-away semifinals later this month.

The Warriors went ahead on the stroke of halftime when James Naka blasted past Waitakere keeper Danny Robinson from close range after a clever buildup with Micah Lea-alafa.

Robinson was the standout performer for Waitakere and produced a number of top-drawer saves throughout the first half to deny the quick and creative Warriors attack.

After a desperate second half chasing the game, Waitakere finally found the net with four minutes to go, when a lofted ball into the box was fumbled into the goal by Warriors goalkeeper Silas Seda.

The winner of each of the three groups and the best second-placed finisher advance to the Champions League semifinals and Amicale FC and Auckland City both sit on six points with one game to play in Group A. After beating Kiwi FC 2-0 on Wednesday, Waitakere now sit on four points which means they can progress only with a win.

They will have their work cut out against AS Pirae, who thumped Samoan side Kiwi FC 8-0 in the day's other match - Waitakere beat Kiwi 2-0.

Waitakere coach Paul Temple was disappointed with the result, but relieved they still have it all to play for on Tuesday.

"I'm pleased that we showed the character to get the goal that I thought we deserved and at least got something from the game to keep us fighting in the competition," he said.