OFC HEAVYWEIGHTS TO FIGHT FOR THE TOP

The two heavyweights of OFC football will battle for bragging rights at Fred Taylor Park in Auckland tomorrow as Waitakere United take on Auckland City in round 10 of the
NZFC.

Current O-League champions Waitakere are fresh from a 9-1 trouncing of bottom placed Canterbury United in last weeks NZFC match-up, but will head into the game as underdogs
against an Auckland City side which has won nine out of the last 12 encounters with the West Auckland club.

Auckland sit atop the NZFC table after ten matches but are only separated by a point from their inter city rivals. The last encounter between the two sides ended in a 1-1 draw at
the Croatian club in round four.

Since that match the two Auckland clubs have dominated the league with Waitakere winning six straight and Auckland only dropping points when they drew 1-1 with third place
Wellington.

Goals have been coming thick and fast for Waitakere and leading the charge is Solomon Islands international Benjamin Totori. Last years golden boot winner has scored seven goals
from ten games and is currently battling with Graham little of Auckland (also on seven goals) for this years title.

Totori’s lightening speed and samba-like skills have terrorized NZFC defenses this year and he will be hoping to break down a stingy Auckland defense which hasn’t conceded a goal
in almost six hours of football (344 minutes since Wiremu Patrick’s goal for Wellington in round seven).

But Auckland will be looking to reinstate their dominance in the only derby of the NZFC and key to that will be centre-back and captain Ben Sigmund. The former Canterbury United
star has been a rock at the back for Auckland this season and has also contributed at the other end, notching three goals in nine matches.

In other NZFC matches tomorrow troubled Canterbury United travel to Waikato in a match where both teams will be desperate for win. Canterbury United’s stocks are so depleted that
Coach Danny Halligan will take a spot on their bench tomorrow and Waikato will be looking to take advantage having not score in their last two outings.

In Napier Wellington will be hoping to build some momentum after there 2-0 win over Waikato last week but will be up against a very determined and talented Hawke’s bay side who are
brimming with confidence after their 3-1 win last week against Manawatu.

Manawatu will travel to Otago with a point to prove after a run of disappointing results.

NZFC Standings