Soccer: Goals flow as finals day nears

Auckland City and Waitakere United rounded off their preparations for the National finals with four-goal hauls in their last New Zealand Football Championship round robin hitouts.

But between United and a place in the March 12 grand final stand a gritty Waikato FC side who booked their place in Sunday's preliminary final with a solid 3-0 Friday night away win over Napier City.

Waikato coach Declan Edge, on the sideline as Waitakere beat Otago United 4-0 at Trusts Stadium yesterday, would have taken some heart from some inaccurate United play.

That was a far cry from Auckland City's second-half performance against YoungHeart Manawatu at Kiwitea St on Saturday. In coming from a goal down to score four in the second half and win 4-1 they took their goal tally beyond 50.

City again showed why they have long been the team to beat with another clinical display.

Paul Urlovic put himself right in the golden boot race when he scored five minutes after the break, but then watched as team-mate Grant Young went back to the top with 15 goals when he slotted a penalty after Urlovic had been brought down.

Late goals to Neil Sykes and Riki Van Steeden completed City's 14th win of the season.

Waitakere needed 30 minutes to score against Otago. That came from a curling Craig Wylie corner which goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley helped into the net.

Chris Jackson headed home a Jeremy Christie freekick for 2-0 in the 71st minute and seven minutes from time Keryn Jordan made it three.

That goal took his tally to 15 and a share of the golden boot with Young. A minute later Jordan was in the thick of it again, this time being booked following a foul on Spoonley.

Otago defender Nathan Strom, incensed by Jordan's earlier challenge on standout Otago defender Blair Marfell, reacted strongly.

Referee Gabriel Streza showed Strom his second yellow of the match.

That booking could prove costly for Jordan who must get through Sunday's game or face missing the final should United win through.

A minute from the end of added time, Allan Pearce headed home a Christie corner for 4-0.

In Christchurch, Canterbury United, ahead 2-0 inside 20 minutes beat Team Wellington 2-1 to finish one place outside the play-offs.

Golden Boot

Grant Young (Auckland) 15
Keryn Jordan (Waitakere) 15
Paul Urlovic (Auckland) 14
Leon Birnie (Napier) 13