Hawke’s Bay’s victory lifts them to 15 points – three points adrift of third place – and sets up an all-or-nothing clash with unbeaten Auckland City next week in their final match of the regular season. A Hawke’s Bay win must be accompanied by heavy defeats for Team Wellington and Otago United in their final matches if they hope to qualify for the play-offs.
Canterbury – who could have confirmed their play-off spot with a win today – now faces a nervous final two games against fellow play-off rivals Team Wellington and Auckland City. Canterbury could still lose both games and qualify for the play-offs but only if both Otago and Team Wellington loses their final matches too. If Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay finish level on points, Canterbury’s goal difference of plus ten gives them a significant advantage over Hawke’s Bay who have a goal difference of minus three.
Fourth placed Team Wellington – on 18 points – only has one match left – against Canterbury – and will be desperate for a win that will guarantee them a play-off spot. Fifth placed Otago United are now in a precarious position where a win in their final match against YoungHeart Manawatu will lift them to 20 points but that may not be enough to clinch a play-off spot if other results go against them.
Hawke’s Bay’s victory continued an impressive home record for the 2009/10 season with the Bay dropping only one of its six matches at home to date. Andrew Abba opened the scoring when he volleyed home a Stuart Ferguson flick on after 17 minutes.
Leon Birnie extended Hawke’s Bay’s lead six minutes before halftime when he went on a brilliant solo run before scoring from long range past Canterbury goalkeeper Tom Batty for Birnie’s eighth NZFC goal of the season.
Canterbury United bounced back when Russell Kamo finished off a move started by Tom Lancaster on 56 minutes. But the home side held out for the 2-1 win with Hawke’s Bay goalkeeper Shaun Peta playing a strong game as a replacement for the suspended Richard Gillespie.
Story and photo courtesy NZFC Media.
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