Waitakere United and Auckland City are assured of finishing in the top two slots but, in what has become another tight NZFC playoff race, the fate of Canterbury United, Otago United, Team Wellington, YoungHeart Manawatu and Hawke’s Bay United could be decided on a frenetic day of NZFC action.
Otago United (17 points, minus six goal difference, one game to play) host YoungHeart Manawatu (12 points, minus eight goal difference, two games to play) in an all-or-nothing clash for both sides at Dunedin’s Carisbrook. Victory for Otago United would propel them into the play-offs. A draw would leave Otago fans eyeing the outcome of the Team Wellington v Canterbury United and Hawke’s Bay United v Auckland City matches. Defeat for Otago United would see Malcolm Fleming’s team eliminated from the play-off picture. YoungHeart Manawatu need two wins from its final two matches to retain any hope of a play-off miracle and without Vanuatu international Seule Soromon and the suspended Cory Chettleburgh for this match.
Team Wellington (18 points, mins three goal difference, one game to play) and Canterbury United (18 points, plus ten goal difference, two games to play) go head-to-head in a pivotal clash that will not only determine the fate of both teams, but have a bearing on the play-off futures of Otago United, Hawke’s Bay United and YoungHeart Manawatu. A win for Team Wellington would be enough to seal qualification. A draw would seal the fate of Hawke’s Bay United and YoungHeart Manawatu but leave Wellington hoping Manawatu win or draw with Otago in Dunedin. Defeat for Wellington would throw a potential lifeline to Otago, Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu.
Hawke’s Bay United (15 points, minus four goal difference, one game to play) is in the last chance saloon when they play host to Auckland City (25 points, plus 16 goal difference, three games to play) at Park Island on Sunday. Matt Chandler’s Bay squad need a rare win over the defending champions and hope other results go their way if they are to sneak into the play-offs via the backdoor. Auckland lack no motivation for this tie with the NZFC minor premiership very much at stake with Paul Posas’s men trailing Waitakere United by 1 point but with two games in hand. Auckland City striker Grant Young is in line to win his 100th NZFC career appearance with the South African striker just four goals shy of compatriot Keryn Jordan’s NZFC all-time goal scoring record of 62.
Waitakere United (26 points, plus seven goal difference, one game to play) will want to finish their regular season with a win over Waikato FC at Fred Taylor Park that will boost their minor premiership hopes. Waitakere hold a 1 point lead over Auckland but could stretch that to four points if their rivals slip-up in Napier. Waikato FC has pride to play for with Che Bunce’s team desperate to avoid an eighth place finish. A win for Waikato FC and two defeats for Manawatu would be enough for Bunce’s men to claim seventh.
Story courtesy NZF Media
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