Waitakere United climbed to second in the New Zealand Football Championship with a 2-1 win over Otago United yesterday as Manawatu slipped up with a 0-0 home draw with Canterbury United.
At Napier, a 2-0 victory over Hawke's Bay lifted Wellington off the bottom of the competition, their first win
of the season leaving Waikato to prop the table up.
Auckland City remain top of the table despite not playing and now lead Waitakere by just a single point after four matches. Waitakere kept the pressure up on Auckland after a come from behind victory in Dunedin.
Otago United's Dave Dugdale broke the deadlock just five minutes into the first half but Benjamin Totori caught Otago's defence out to level the scores seven minutes later. Dan Ede had the ball in the net for Otago in the 65th minute but his effort was disallowed for offside. Brent Fisher made it 2-1 with a 79th minute close range finish to hand maximum points to the visitors.
At Palmerston North, Manawatu and Canterbury United produced an exciting 0-0 draw. Manawatu strikers Des Fa'aiuaso and Seule Soromon missed gilt-edged chances to give the home side victory.
Manawatu goalkeeper Ross Nicholson was in good form and stopped efforts from Canterbury pair Tom Lancaster and Aaron Clapham.
Canterbury's frustration was evident as referee Matthew Conger issued four yellow cards to the visitors and two to Manawatu in a physical but entertaining match.
- NZPA
