Waitakere United 2
Canterbury United 0
KEY POINTS:
Waitakere United have all but slammed the door on their New Zealand Football Championship rivals after completing an unbeaten 12-month run with a battling 2-0 win over Canterbury United yesterday.
At English Park in conditions made difficult by a swirling wind, United rode an initial Canterbury storm to
finish with aplomb.
Roy Krishna, on the receiving end of some crude Canterbury challenges until referee Mike Hester stepped in and issued four cards in the opening 10 minutes of the second spell, scored twice in the last 20 minutes to seal it.
After an 11th round in which home teams managed just one of a possible 12 points, Waitakere have slipped five points clear and still with a game in hand - against lowly Otago United at Trusts Stadium on Friday.
Auckland City and Hawkes Bay United joined Canterbury as hometown losers. The point Otago took from their 3-3 draw with Waikato, the only joy for home teams.
In losing 3-1 to Team Wellington on Saturday at Kiwitea St, City fell out of the top four and are in danger of missing the play-offs.
Their fate could be sealed in this week's double-header - away to Hawkes Bay on Friday and home to YoungHeart Manawatu, now in second place, on Sunday. Auckland coach Paul Posa warned there were likely to be changes in his line-ups.
"I'm disappointed with some players," admitted Posa after a third successive loss to Team Wellington. "Something has to be done. I think there will be changes. To lose like that is so disappointing."
For almost 75 minutes it was a game going nowhere but it then became the Luis Corrales show.
Always the liveliest player on the pitch, he broke the deadlock with a skilful finish from a ball played in by Ross McKenzie. Three minutes later Corrales, who has joined Jason Hayne at the top of the Golden Boot (with eight), turned provider when after a jinking run, he found Andy Barron who swept home for 2-0.
City got one back when Ivan Vicelich steered home a Ki-Hyung Lee corner but any hopes of snatching a late point were dashed three minutes into stoppage time when Bryan Little was left unmarked to add a third.
Canterbury made much of the early play at English Park but rarely threatened to turn possession into profit. Waitakere too squandered a handful of half chances in a dour first spell.
Stern halftime words from Waitakere coach Chris Milicich fired up the troops but it was not until Krishna ran on to a great long ball from Neil Emblen and hit home they were rewarded.
With strong games from Aaron Scott, Chris Bale, Emblen, Krishna and, in the second half, Benjamin Totori, a second Waitakere goal was inevitable. When it came, it was worth the wait as Krishna played a deft one-two with substitute Paul Seaman before crashing home a classic.
Manawatu came from 1-2 at halftime to beat Hawkes Bay 3-2 with Gustavo Saralegui scoring first and last after Graham Fyfe (penalty) and Seule Soromon had given the Bay a 2-0 lead inside 20 minutes.
Two late Steven Holloway goals earned Waikato FC their point in their draw with Otago.