KEY POINTS:
Wellington and Hawke's Bay both missed the chance to join the national soccer league leaders today as Otago United and Canterbury United grabbed vital away points to keep the table tight.
With the top four New Zealand Football Championship teams absent due to Waitakere United and Auckland City's respective FIFA Club World Cup and O-league commitments, Canterbury were the big movers of the weekend.
Their 2-1 win over Hawke's Bay in Napier moved them off the foot of the table.
Last place was taken by Otago United despite earning a 1-1 draw in Wellington that sees just five points separate the entire eight-team league.
Wellington sneak into a semifinal spot with eight points, one behind the leading trio of Auckland, Waikato and Manawatu, although the capital-based side have played one game more that the top three.
They have played three more than defending champions Waitakere, who return from the FIFA club World Cup ready to charge back into title contention.
In Napier, Canterbury's long-awaited first win of the season was set up by Michael Fifii's 14th-minute opener.
After a succession of corners led to a goalmouth scramble, the Solomon Islands international reacted quickest to put the visitors in front.
They doubled their advantage in the 63rd minute thanks to an own goal from Chris McIvor but Hawke's Bay immediately struck back when the referee awarded a spot kick when Matt Boyd fouled Greig Henslee in the area.
Graham Fyfe comfortably slotted the penalty but it wasn't enough to deny Canterbury, who are now unbeaten in three matches.
At Newtown Park, victory for Wellington would have taken them to the NZFC summit but they instead stuttered into fourth after being held at home by Otago, who dominated throughout the game and may feel unlucky to not come away with maximum points.
The Southerners took the lead in the 52nd minute after a poor goal kick from Wellington goalkeeper Phil Imray fell straight to Stu Kelly, whose 35-yard reply left Imray helpless as the ball nestled in the bottom corner.
With just a minute remaining, the league's joint top scorer Luis Corrales latched onto a hopeful ball into the box to score an easy tap in for Wellington.
- NZPA
