KEY POINTS:
NZFC Waitakere United 4 Waikato FC 2
Bad habits are hard to shake and Waitakere are developing one they must eliminate to win the NZFC this season.
The league leaders have acquired a disconcerting ability to let slip handy leads, like the 2-0 advantage they held over Auckland City in last month's O-League fixture that ended 2-2. Yesterday, they were in danger of gifting Waikato FC at least a point.
Leading 3-0 inside 25 minutes, Waitakere were playing some of their best football of the season a week after playing some of their worst in a 2-1 defeat at Canterbury.
But then the hosts gave Waikato a lifeline and put themselves under unnecessary pressure.
The visitors had reduced the gap to 3-2 by halftime and were beaten only when Waitakere substitute Daniel Koprivcic stabbed the ball home in injury time.
"I don't think the guys get nervous, I think they get a bit complacent," relieved Waitakere coach Steve Cain said. "They start patting themselves on the back a little too much and say, 'aren't we clever?' Suddenly the opposition get a sniff and get back into it."
Waitakere have a six-point lead at the top of the table with five rounds of the regular season remaining.
Manawatu, who host a resurgent Wellington today, and Auckland are favoured to grab the other two playoff spots, especially after Auckland beat Otago 2-1 and fourth-placed Canterbury were upset 2-1 by Hawke's Bay yesterday.
Waitakere have a side capable of toppling two-time NZFC champions Auckland City, particularly if they can recapture they kind of form they showed in the opening 25 minutes yesterday.
They played with pace, intelligence and some skill but invited trouble after the half-hour mark by playing the ball backwards when they had chances to attack.
Allan Pearce opened the scoring when he converted a penalty he won in the 16th minute.
Waitakere and All Whites skipper Danny Hay, who says he will consider an A-League return only if the New Zealand side is based in Auckland, doubled the lead five minutes later with a well-struck volley.
When Jeff Campbell headed a third from one of the best moves of the match in the 25th minute, the result looked beyond doubt.
Waikato coach Roger Wilkinson knew he needed to try something different and brought on tricky winger Felipe Oliveira, who won a penalty on the half-hour.
Matt Williams converted and Waitakere must have started feeling a little nervous when Michael Mayne blasted in a left-footed strike from 25m just before the break.
Waikato, who went into the game on the back of two wins, were more organised and difficult to break down in the second half but rarely threatened the home side.
Waitakere's Solomon Islands striker Commins Menapi missed a couple of chances to secure the points, a job instead left to Koprivcic.
With Wellington, Auckland and Manawatu still to face, Waitakere still have some work to finish top, a position which earns direct entry and home advantage for the final.
New Zealand A take on Tahiti in Auckland on Wednesday and Friday.
