AUCKLAND – The dates of the first two New Zealand Football Championship semi-finals have been locked in.
Fourth placed Team Wellington will host Minor Premiers and defending champions Waitakere United on Saturday 14 March in a 4.30pm kick-off, while three-time winners Auckland City will travel to Palmerston North to take on YoungHeart Manawatu at 2pm on Sunday 15 March.
The fixtures are reversed the following week with Auckland and Waitakere fulfilling host duties on the weekend of March 21 and 22.
A final decision on which second leg semi-final would be scheduled on which day will not be made until March 16 – after the first legs were complete – to ensure the closest tie was reserved for a Sunday afternoon television slot.
The semi-final winners will play in a March 29 Grand Final with the higher seed earning home advantage.
NZFC PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Semi finals first leg
Saturday 14 March
Team Wellington v Waitakere United
Newtown Park (tbc)
4.30pm
Sunday 15 March
YoungHeart Manawatu v Auckland City
Memorial Park, Palmerston North
1pm
Semi finals second leg
Saturday 21 or Sunday 22 March (dates and times tbc)
Waitakere United v Team Wellington
Douglas Field, Henderson
Auckland City v YoungHeart Manawatu
Kiwitea Street, Sandringham
The game on Sunday 22 March will be shown live on Sky Sports, kick-off 2pm.
Grand Final
Sunday 29 March
Winner A v Winner B
Venue tbd
2pm
Live on Sky Sport
Story and photo courtesy NZF Media
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