Soccer: Jordan has goalden touch

Commins Menapi (left) is Jordan's closest challenger for the Golden Boot. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Striker: (1) A worker on strike. (2) A football player whose main role is to score goals.

John Adshead's woeful New Zealand Knights imported players who seemed to combine the two dictionary definitions of the word "striker", but in the national league Auckland City and YoungHeart Manawatu can field players who have earned a productivity bonus for their goal-scoring.

When the two teams meet tomorrow at Kiwitea St, Sandringham, in a game that could decide the league title, six of the top 11 scorers in the league will be involved.

Despite a month away with a leg injury, Auckland's Keryn Jordan tops the race for the Golden Boot, with 18 goals. He played 20 minutes as a substitute last weekend and is again named on the bench but he may well start.

The South African, who shifted from Waitakere this season, was labelled a show pony for some of his theatrics in the penalty area and tended to drift in and out of games.

But he has bought into Allan Jones' team plan at Kiwitea St, setting up goals with some deft touches while retaining his goalscoring prowess.

Two goals behind him in the scoring race, Commins Menapi has repeatedly provided match-winners when Manawatu have needed them most.

The Solomon Islander has the speed to outflank defences and makes a lethal combination with his fellow countryman Benjamin Totori.

Jordan's South African team-mate, Grant Young, has 11 goals to his credit and offers a slightly different style of attacking play. When he is fully fit, his running off the ball creates openings and he is no mean finisher.

Paul Urlovic has had more time than he would like on the bench or injured, but he has scored eight goals in his appearances for Auckland. While he doesn't fit in the conventional striker's role, Campbell Banks has been a regular scorer for Manawatu and the former Kingz player retains the unpredictability that can wrong-foot defences.

Starting one point ahead, Manawatu can clinch the league title with a round to spare if they beat Auckland tomorrow. Any other result would see the league decided on March 26 when Auckland will be away to Waitakere while Manawatu will be home to Otago.

Auckland have inflicted Manawatu's only two losses this season. In the second round they won 2-1 in Palmerston North and at Kiwitea St in the 12th round it was 4-1 with Jordan scoring a hat-trick. Manawatu have been keeping the scorers busy recently with 18 goals from their last four games, including three last Sunday in a come-from-behind victory over Waitakere.

At Trusts Stadium on Sunday Waitakere face Wellington in a battle that could decide the fifth and final place in the playoffs, which offer a chance to earn the second place in the World Club Cup Oceania qualification in May. The teams are level on points but Waitakere have a better goal difference and could make fifth spot safe with a win.

RACE FOR THE GOLDEN BOOT

18 - Keryn Jordan, Auckland City
16 - Commins Menapi, YoungHeart Manawatu
Brent Fisher, Canterbury United
Grant Young, Auckland City
9 - Bryan Little, Team Wellington
8 - Graham Little, Team Wellington
Blair Scoullar, Otago United
Paul Urlovic, Auckland City
7 - Campbell Banks, YoungHeart Manawatu
Richard Cardozo, Waitakere United
Benjamin Totori, YoungHeart Manawatu