Soccer: Big two fight it out for home advantage in final

The Waikato FC bubble has burst, but they still remain on course to grab the third NZ Football Championship play-off spot.

Their eight-match unbeaten run ended when they were beaten 3-0 away by Team Wellington on a slippery Newtown Park pitch and in conditions near dark by the finish.

In last night's other match, YoungHeart Manawatu, led by the returning Ian Sandbrook who grabbed two, came from behind to score an emphatic 4-1 win over Otago United at Memorial Park.

Croyden Wheeler gave Otago the lead inside five minutes but that was the visitors' lot. Sandbrook got the equaliser early in the second spell and completed the scoring in the last minute.

In between, Peter Halstead continued his good scoring form and Luiz Del Monte added the other.

The game in Wellington was one-sided in the first spell as Dan Keat opened the scoring in the eighth minute and Grant Cooper conceded an own goal on the half hour.

David Johnston increased the home side's lead early in the second spell.

The game then fell away although Waikato rallied late in the game. They were let down by some wayward finishing.

Waikato need to win only one of their remaining two games against Auckland City and Napier City to assure themselves of a play-off spot.

Attention now turns to today's top of the table clash at Kiwitea St. Both Auckland City and Waitakere United are now assured of a top-two finish.

At stake is only the finishing order and with it home advantage for the grand final.

City go into today's game three points clear of their rivals and knowing that victory will almost certainly wrap it up.

The games between these two sides suggest City should win after scoring 1-0 (home) and 3-1 (away) wins in their earlier clashes.

But with Waikato now out of the picture both teams could turn on the game of the season.

In tomorrow's game, Canterbury United will attempt to grab the lifeline which has been thrown to them by Team Wellington's win last night.

A win at home against Napier City would keep them in the race but it would need a minor miracle for any of the other contenders to get up at this late stage.