Soccer: Wellington in the doldrums

Team Wellington coach Mick Waitt will not be drawn into reflecting on the poor start he had to the New Zealand Football Championship last year, but he must be starting to wonder if this season is going to be more of the same.

Deservedly ahead 2-0 inside 35 minutes against Waitakere United at Trusts Stadium yesterday, Waitt and his players eventually flew home empty-handed as the home side stormed back to win 3-2.

"I thought we were the better team," said a philosophical Waitt. "I'm still confident we have the players to do well when things start going our way."

His thoughts were supported by United coach Steve Cain.

"We did not deserve to be in it at halftime. We were lucky to be within a goal at the break," said Cain , who was still fuming at losing key central defender George Suri for the match.

Suri, a standout in Napier in the first round, was sidelined with a hamstring injury. Even if he is fit for the trip to Dunedin this week he will not be going as Cain intends standing him down for disciplinary reasons.

Suri injured himself while playing in an ethnic tournament without permission during the week.

With Suri out, there was a hesitant look to the Waitakere defence, one the visitors were quick to capitalise on.

They had early chances and went ahead in the 24th minute when Jeff Sole, in for Suri, gave the ball away. David Johnston broke quickly, had a shot which goalkeeper Simon Eaddy only partially cleared and Johnston charged to bury the loose ball.

Within 10 minutes Team Wellington went further ahead when referee Allan Martin, who otherwise had, at best, an ordinary game, played a good advantage on halfway to allow Tristan McCormick to race away, draw Eaddy and score.

In a flurry of yellow cards, three players were booked in the dying minutes of the first spell, but the last act was with the home side who played the ball wide to Craig Wylie who looped home a great strike to close the gap.

Waitakere pushed further forward in the second spell to assert more pressure and were rewarded with two goals in eight minutes from Richie Cardozo, both set up by the speedy Shannon Cole who continues to impress.

The visitors deserved to get back to 3-3 five minutes from time, but were denied when Karl Whalens' great header was superbly saved by Eaddy.

Seconds later Johnston had another chance but was just wide.

Leaders Auckland City had some anxious moments in Palmerston North before emerging 2-1 victors over YoungHeart Manawatu.

Keryn Jordan scored after two minutes, his first goal of the season, and Jonathan Smith after 34 to give City their 2-0 halftime lead.

The home side hit back with the only goal after the break, but Commins Menapis' 62nd minute strike was their lot.

Waikato FC bounced back from their first-round drubbing by Auckland City to edge Hawkes Bay United 1-0 with Stu Hoggs' 83rd-minute leader from a cross by substitute Rodrigo Narcoleta separating the side after United had Ben Murphy sent off for a second yellow card.


Brent Fisher's 68th-minute goal earned Canterbury United their 2-1 win over Otago United in the battle of the south after they had been locked 1-1 at the break.