New Zealand Football Championship
Otago in the Hunt for an Hour, then ...
Rab Smith
Otago United kept Auckland scoreless until after half-time, but was 
overwhelmed 5-nil in the second spell as the home side ran riot to overtake Waitakere at the top of the New Zealand Football Championship.
Coach Malcolm Fleming’s plan to flood the midfield worked well in the early stages, and Stu Kelly hit Otago’s most convincing shot, but international centreback Ivan Vicelich got a late foot in to block the ball.
James Waggett in the Otago goal showed top form to save several well hit 
shots, the best a rasper by Jason Hayne after a mazy dribble took the striker past four Otago players.
Yet, Otago was still well in the match, looked capable of grabbing a point as halftime approached, and until the 52nd minute Fleming’s side retained its compact shape.
Then however Ian Hogg’s left wing cross was slid home by Matt Williams and the Auckland side surged forward, to turn the screw. 
Otago tried to refresh tired legs with Dave Dugdale on for Dan Ede, and Tom Connor on for Mike Abbott. Then later Morgan Day replaced James Reichwein.
But the altered team shape crumbled as Auckland rammed in two goals in two minutes, when James Pritchett and Hayne combined to set up Dan Koprivcic to score in the 75th minute. Then Grant Young forced in a close range strike to make the score 3-nil after 77 minutes.
Dugdale did test Spoonley in the Auckland goal with a swerving shot that the keeper did well to beat round his post, but with tails up, the home side pushed forward and clinched the match with another two goals.
Referee Campbell Waugh awarded a penalty that Paul Urlovich hammered in, then from a corner centreback Vicelich headed in a near post flick by Urlovich to register the final 5-nil result.
A clearly disappointed Fleming said,’ They were not five goals better than us, but that’s what the scoreline says. For the first hour we competed well, then ran out of legs.’
Like vinegar in open wounds, Canterbury overtook Otago by soundly beating the former league leader Waitakere 4-nil, in a match that had Waitakere striker Roy Krishna red carded. 
Red cards were also issued to Manawatu players Dan Keat and David Samson as Wellington cruised upwards by beating Manawatu 2-nil.
Hawkes Bay moved up to within two points of Otago, winning 3-nil, leaving Waikato anchored at the bottom of the NZFC with three points.
Todays result should add some sparks to next weeks NZFC match with Hawkes Bay, who are breathing down Otago's neck just two points behind.
The match kicks off at 6 pm at Carisbrook.
RESULTS
YoungHeart Manawatu 0
Team Wellington 2 (Greg Draper 35’, 72’)
Halftime: 0-1
Auckland City 5 (Matt Williams 53’, Daniel Koprivcic 75’, Grant Young 77’, Paul Urlovic 84’ pen, Ivan Vicelich 90’)
Otago United 0
Halftime: 0-0
Canterbury United 4 (Matt Boyd 43’, Russell Kamo 48’, Tom Lancaster 55’, Sam Miles 82’)
Waitakere United 0
Halftime: 1-0
Hawke’s Bay United 3 (Leon Birnie 9’, 84’, Joachim Rande 77’)
Waikato FC 0
Halftime: 1-0
STANDINGS
NZFC |
P |
W |
D |
L |
For |
Ag |
GD |
Pts |
Auckland |
6 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
15 |
2 |
13 |
16 |
Waitakere |
8 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
12 |
12 |
0 |
16 |
Wellington |
8 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
11 |
11 |
0 |
12 |
Canterbury |
7 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
11 |
7 |
4 |
11 |
Manawatu |
7 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
7 |
7 |
0 |
10 |
Otago Utd |
8 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
9 |
12 |
-3 |
10 |
Hawke’s B. |
8 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
11 |
13 |
-2 |
8 |
Waikato FC |
8 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
8 |
20 |
-12 |
3 |
Golden Boot
6- Seule SOROMON (YoungHeart Manawatu)
6- Leon BIRNIE (Hawke’s Bay United)
5- Greg DRAPER (Team Wellington)
4- Grant YOUNG (Auckland City)
3- Andrew ABBA (Hawke’s Bay United)
3- Dan PEAT (Waikato FC)
3- Dan EDE (Otago United)
3- Greg DRAPER (Team Wellington)
3- Brent FISHER (Waitakere United)
3- Matt WILLIAMS (Auckland City)
NEXT Weeks FIXTURES
NZFC
Saturday January 23, 2010
Waitakere United v YoungHeart Manawatu, 2pm
Otago United v Hawke’s Bay United, 6pm
note : change of kick-off time at Carisbrook.
Sunday January 24, 2010
Waikato FC v Canterbury United, 1pm
Auckland City v Team Wellington, 2pm