Soccer: Tuaa out to set score straight

Colin Tuaa was left shaking his head as his YoungHeart Manawatu side lost their first life in the New Zealand Football Championship play-offs on Sunday.

The coach was perplexed not only by the result, losing a penalty shootout to Canterbury United, but also by his team's failure to score a goal in 120 minutes.

"It was only the second time this season we have failed to score," said Tuaa as he prepares to face Team Wellington in a must-win clash. "The only other game in which that happened was also a scoreless draw against Otago United down there."

Tuaa said it was frustrating to watch as his team created a number of good scoring chances but failed to put them away.

"To be fair, there were chances at both ends but some excellent goalkeeping both from Michael Utting for us and James Bannatyne for Canterbury kept the strikers out," he said. "Hopefully this time we can get back to scoring like we have all season."

Some of the home advantage Manawatu might have enjoyed has been lost. Like last week's match, Sunday's game will be played at Memorial Park as their traditional home ground, The Arena, is having work done on it.

The home side does, however, claim some advantage over their neighbours.

In three match-ups this season, Manawatu have won two and drawn one with wins home and away and a draw (2-2 with 10 players) in Wellington.

"We have to take some confidence from that," said Tuaa. "But this is different as we are now in sudden death and Wellington have found some late-season form."

Tuaa is likely to put out a team similar to that which started against Canterbury with all players fit and ready to play.

"I could not fault their performance apart from finishing the chances they created. "

Tuaa said he has been a little disappointed with the crowds given Manawatu's style of football and their position on the table.

"We had 800-900 last week. Hopefully Wellington will bring their supporters and help double that."

For the loser it will be all over while the winner will play the loser of tomorrow's major semifinal between Auckland City and Canterbury United next weekend for a place in the April 22 grand final.

If Canterbury lose at Kiwitea St tomorrow and Manawatu win on Sunday, the play-off will be in Palmerston North. If City lose they will host the play-off as the highest-placed team from the round-robin.

Canterbury, boosted by the late-season signing of former Knight Jeremy Brockie, will pose a threat to City but the southerners, like Manawatu, must return to scoring form after failing to turn chances into goals late week.

Manawatu are keen to have another crack at the champions.

"Our only losses in regular time this season have been against Auckland City," said Tuaa. "We would love the chance to try and turn that around."

AUCKLAND CITY V CANTERBURY UNITED

* Kiwitea St, Sandringham, tomorrow 3pm

Referee: Neil Fox

Auckland City

Ross Nicholson
Paul Seaman
Jonathan Perry
Liam Mulrooney
James Pritchett
Jonathan Smith
Grant Young
Neil Sykes
Keryn Jordan
Greg Uhlmann
Riki Van Steeden

Subs: Hyde, Urlovic, Gillespie, Vodanovich, Cunneen, Davani, Coombes

Canterbury United

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

Subs: Brown, Tallentire, Moir, Draper, Pelter, Ashton

Prediction: City, after a week off will be fresher and ready for it. Canterbury gave themselves a second chance with a shootout win in Palmerston North but will lament their inability to score in 120 minutes. The Jordan factor to decide this one.

ODDS $1.50 DRAW $3.85 ODDS$6.25

YOUNGHEART MANAWATU V TEAM WELLINGTON

* Memorial Park, Palmerston North, Sunday 2.30pm
Referee: Kevin Stoltenkamp

YoungHeart Manawatu

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

Subs: Englefield, McElhannan, Hill, Cooksley, Roydhouse

Team Wellington

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

Subs: Johnston, Smith, Keat, Halstead, Tarrant, Barbarouses

Prediction: Odds suggest home town heroes will get up. Reality says it will be much closer. Manawatu failed to find the net a rarity last week but again at home it is difficult to see them missing again. The visitors will be all too aware their season will end here if they don't win.

ODDS $1.65 DRAW $3.40 ODDS $4.85