KEY POINTS:
Waitakere United 3
YoungHeart Manawatu 1
With their minds more on this morning's trip to Japan than the business at hand, Waitakere United made hard work of their clash with YoungHeart Manawatu before winning 3-1 yesterday.
Described by United coach Chris Milicich as ugly, the game at Fred Taylor Park rarely hit anything close to top gear. The visitors were forced to play the last 43 minutes a man short following a controversial call by referee Chris Kerr on the advice of a linesman to dismiss striker Osea Vakatalesau following an incident with United left back Neil Sykes.
"Sykes made a meal of it. It changed the game," said Manawatu coach Shane Rufer. "I'm disappointed for the team. They deserved more."
They could have got that had they taken a golden chance in the opening minute when Dominic Rowe hit the post and Vakatalesau pushed an even weaker shot from the rebound to United goalkeeper Simon Eaddy.
The home side, rattled early, settled and went ahead in the 14th minute when a long range Darren Bazeley free kick fell for Benjamin Totori, who somehow deceived Michael Utting in the Manawatu goal with a very soft shot which tricked just inside the upright.
Two minutes later, Utting kept out a shot from Paul Seaman and later in the spell joined his team-mates in celebrating Ian Sandbrook's equaliser.
Danny Hay had a chance to put the home side back in front just before the break but his volley from a Sykes right-wing corner flew high and wide.
After Jonathan Perry presented Totori and Commins Menapi with a great chance to score two minutes into the second spell, United went 2-1 up in the 53rd minute when Bazeley curled a 25m free kick inside Utting's post.
With their minds and thoughts some place else, United struggled to really threaten but did manage a late well-taken goal by Totori who snapped a shot from the edge of the penalty area to seal the victory and cement third place on the table.
Hawke's Bay United scored first and last in the third and 88th minutes to beat Otago United 2-1 at Carisbrook. In between, in the 32nd minute, Aaron Burgess powerfully headed home Otago's first goal of the season.
The remaining games in the fifth round will be played in Hamilton, where Waikato FC meets Auckland City, and Christchurch, where leaders Team Wellington are away to Canterbury United.
