Some defeats hurt much more than others and Napier City Rovers will be feeling the weight of the world after their crushing Central League soccer loss in Wellington on Saturday.
English import Ryan Tinsley's finely-struck shot after 12 minutes had given the visitors a deserved lead against Wellington Olympic on the artificial turf at Wakefield Park and there was every indication the Bill Robertson-coached side would go on to record a shock defeat of last season's runners-up and 2009 Chatham Cup winners.
How they were pegged to 1-all at halftime is a mystery of Malaysian aviation levels but there was an inevitability about the second half, as a fired-up Olympic punished their foes with three strikes for a 4-2 victory.
The Greeks were in a generous mood in the first 45 minutes but the Rovers failed to take advantage.
The most infuriating missed opportunity for the team was on the half-hour mark, when Tinsley bizarrely passed to Josh Stevenson who was facing two defenders, and he, then Miles John, both feebly failed to convert. Tinsley was in a perfect position after waltzing through the Olympic defence, with just the goalkeeper in front of him.