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Canterbury United handed Waitakere United their first loss of the NZFC season after striker Stuart Kelly scored a late winner against the league leaders in Christchurch yesterday.
Kelly cut in from the left and lashed a shot past former All Whites goalkeeper Michael Utting in the 75th minute to give his side an important 1-0 win. Canterbury had made a stuttering start to the season but yesterday's result at least keeps last year's beaten finalists in touch with the leaders.
Utting had earlier pulled off a brilliant save to deny Henry Fa'arodo after Canterbury's Solomon Islands striker had been played through for a one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
The result brought the Steve Cain-coached side back down to Earth after a momentous week for the club. Waitakere had earlier been handed the second New Zealand spot along with Auckland City in the newly-created O-League to find the Oceania qualifier for next year's Club World Cup.
In yesterday's other game, All Whites midfielder Andy Barron saved Wellington's blushes with a late winner to give his side a 3-2 win over strugglers Hawke's Bay United.
Wellington looked to be cruising when striker Graham Little gave his side a comfortable 2-0 lead inside 17 minutes, the first from the penalty spot. But Hawke's Bay battled back in the second spell and levelled with goals from Sam Jenkins and Leo Shin.
Barron saved the day with five minutes remaining when he hit the crossbar and then scored from the rebound.
Yesterday's results saw Wellington retain fourth place, one point ahead of a resurgent Canterbury.
Auckland City host Manawatu today in the feature game of the round before they head to Japan for the Club World Cup, while bottom side Waikato are at home to Otago.
