Soccer: Now it's down to business

The New Zealand Football Championship in the bag and, with it, the trip to Oceania's Club Championships in May assured, Auckland City's players have earned themselves a weekend off as the jostling for a spot in the April 22 final begins.

While they will not have a game, City coach Allan Jones will have his players in tomorrow for a full-on training session and on Sunday he will be in Palmerston North to check out the clash between YoungHeart Manawatu and Canterbury United with the winner of that game heading to Kiwitea St tomorrow week.

"There are two ways to look at it at this stage of the season," said Jones. "On the one hand you want to keep playing. On the other you welcome the chance for a rest, especially after a game last Sunday when the conditions were very heavy and the players trudged off with tired legs.

"It was a lottery. Fortunately we had the right ticket and won."

Jones said he does not see any of the other four teams involved in the play-offs as a standout but agrees the teams finishing second (Manawatu) and third (Canterbury) must be seen as the greatest chances.

But, he again emphasised that he still questions the need to have the play-offs.

"You have to ask that with the time needed for the play-offs, why we aren't playing a fourth round," said Jones. "Our game globally is based on league-type competition."

On that, Jones is guaranteed of strong support from other NZFC coaches.

Mick Waitt, who puts his Team Wellington side out against Otago United in the second of Sunday's play-offs, agrees that a fourth round would find favour across the board.

New Zealand Soccer have cited the extra costs of a fourth round as a reason to rule that out. Their preference has been to showcase a final as the season finale.

Of more immediate concern for Waitt is the home game against Otago on Sunday. "We are having a decent run of form and will need to continue that against Otago," said Waitt.

"Terry [Otago coach Terry Phelan] has got them well organised. They are a hard team to break down. I think we have played good football all season but without always getting the results we deserve."

In three matches between the two sides this season each has had a win with one match drawn.

Team Wellington go into the must-win game at Newtown Park after winning their last three games, scoring 11 goals in the process.

"Scoring has not been the problem," said Waitt. "It was the goals we conceded earlier in the season that hurt us."

Waitt acknowledged Raf de Gregorio's return from injury as a difference in his team's performance in the last three weeks, but he insisted it is not the only difference.

"We have settled and played well," said Waitt.

He has named Wiremu Patrick to start in midfield in place of Dan Keat in the only change from last week. Patrick missed the 4-2 win over Hawkes Bay through suspension, giving Keat, back from trials with Blackburn Rovers, his chance. Keat will play off the bench on Sunday.

For the loser of the game between Team Wellington and Otago United, the season will be over.

The winner will play the loser of the match between YoungHeart Manawatu and Canterbury United next weekend.
GOLDEN BOOT STANDINGS

Final positions

21 - Keryn Jordan (Auckland City, right)
17 - Commins Menapi (YoungHeart Manawatu)
13 - Brent Fisher (Canterbury United)
12 - Grant Young (Auckland City)
11 - Bryan Little (Team Wellington)
10 - Graham Little (Team Wellington)
9 - Campbell Banks (YoungHeart Manawatu)
8 - Blair Scoullar (Otago United)
Benjamin Totori (YoungHeart Manawatu)
Paul Urlovic (Auckland City)

TEAM WELLINGTON V OTAGO UNITED

* Newtown Park, Wellington, Sunday 3pm

Referee: Ian Walker

Team Wellington

Dylan Hall
Jamie Duncan
Karl Whalen
Matt Adams
Raf De Gregorio
Adam Birch
Wiremu Patrick
Michael Eager
Bryan Little
Graham Little
Steven Gulley

Otago United

Lutz Pfannenstiel
Craig Dale
Tim Horner
Jim Letts
Ian Mandry
Michael Eisenhut
Andy Coburn
Croyden Wheeler
Blair Scoullar
Brad Scott
Francesco Caruso

Prediction: No second chances here. Home advantage and a three-match winning streak at the right time of the season give the nod to Mick Waitt's boys on Team Wellington. Only Canterbury, with 22, conceded fewer goals than Otago in the regular season. That will make it difficult for Team Wellington, but they should keep their hopes alive.

ODDS $1.70 DRAW $3.30 ODDS $4.65

YOUNGHEART MANAWATU V CANTERBURY UTD

* Memorial Park, Palmerston North, Sunday 3pm
Referee: Peter O'Leary


YoungHeart Manawatu


Michael Utting
Mark Tesar
Adam Cowan
Sanjay Singh
Darren Cheriton
Ian Sandbrook
Ian Robinson
Campbell Banks
Alick Maemae
Benjamin Totori
Commins Menapi

Canterbury Utd

James Bannatyne
Daniel Terris
Ben Sigmund
Michael Lilley
Chris Morris
Glen Collins
Jeremy Brockie
Andy Pitman
Justin Lucas
Michael White
Andy Barron

Prediction: History says Manawatu - who have won all three encounters between the two sides 1-0 - should get up. But for a loss in the penultimate round they would have had an unbeaten end to the regular season. Canterbury, with Jeremy Brockie on board, finished with a rattle and will be keen to take the double-life trip to the final.

ODDS $2.00 DRAW $3.20 ODDS $3.40