AUCKLAND AND WAITAKERE TAKE WINS TO HOLD TOP SPOTS

Waitakere United regained their winning form in the New Zealand Football Championship this weekend by thrashing Hawke’s Bay United 5-0 at Fred Taylor Park. But it was not enough to steal top
spot from a very determined Auckland City side that fought off bottom placed Canterbury United 2-1 and maintained their three point lead at the top of the table.

Having dropped points on the road in their previous two fixtures, Waitakere’s homecoming on Saturday was a happy one, with fine goals to Benjamin Totori and Daniel Koprivcic, supplementing an
Allan Pearce hat-trick that included two penalties and a slick piece of near-post finishing.

The 5-0 win was also a timely boost for the West Auckland club ahead of Saturday night’s O-League clash against AS Manu Ura in Tahiti.

At English Park in Christchurch anything other than a convincing Auckland win would be seen as a disappointment to the top side in the NZFC. 

True to form Auckland shot off to a 2-0 lead before halftime with Korean thunder-boot Ki-Hyung lee ripping a free kick home in the 25th minute before Alex Feneridis then headed home a Paul
Urlovic cross before the break.

Canterbury never gave up however and were rewarded in the 61st minute when Michael Fifii pulled one back to set up an exciting final 30 minutes. United’s endeavor eventually proved fruitless
and handed them an NZFC record 10th straight defeat.

In Hamilton Waikato FC and Young heart Manawatu played out a five goal thriller in wet slipper conditions. Manawatu took an early lead through Uruguay marksman Gouzalo Nieres before Waikato
equalized through Aaron Scott, then went ahead through Steven Holloway shortly before halftime.

In the second half substitute Prince Quansah equalized for the visitors before Holloway converted his second from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute to earn Waikato the much needed three
points.

Team Wellington needed a 73rd minute strike from Steve Gulley to defeat a determined Otago United side 1-0 and tighten their grip on third place, six points behind the leaders but 10 points
ahead of Hawke’s Bay.

Results and standings

Saturday

Waitakere United 5 (Benjamin Totori 14, Allan Pearce 34-pen / 43 / 71-pen, Daniel Koprivcic 64)

Hawke’s Bay United 0

Halftime 3-0

Sunday

Waikato FC 3 (Aaron Scott 29, Steven Holloway 45, 73-pen)

YoungHeart Manawatu 2 (Gouzalo Nieres 18, Prince Quansar 53)

Halftime: 2-1

Team Wellington 1 (Steve Gulley 73)

Otago United 0

Halftime: 0-0

Canterbury United 1 (Michael Fifii 61)

Auckland City 2 (Ki-Hyung Lee 21, Alex Feneridis 41)

Halftime: 0-2

STANDINGS