Otago Knox YoungHeart hopes

Otago United boosted its New Zealand Football Championship play-off hopes today after a resounding 3-0 upset win over YoungHeart Manawatu today.

2009-10 NZFC results [rd 7]:

YoungHeart Manawatu Crowd: ?,???. Ref: Mr Mirko Benischke. HT: 0-0

0-3

Otago United Nathan Knox 53’, 69’; Dan Ede 76’ Played at Memorial Park, Palmerston North

A second-half double for Nathan Knox alongside Dan Ede’s third goal of the season were enough to hand Otago its first ever NZFC victory in Palmerston North. Defeat for Manawatu meant they missed a golden chance to go top of the table.

Otago coach Malcolm Fleming was understandably elated with the result.

"Manawatu could have had four or five goals in the first half, but we could have had a couple, too. Yes, I changed a couple of things with personnel, but mostly we just played in the second half how we were supposed to in the first."

Otago United move into third place in the table on goal difference and will remain there unless Canterbury United defeat Team Wellington in Christchurch tomorrow afternoon. Canterbury could finish the weekend as high as second but will need Hawke’s Bay United to cause an upset at Auckland City.

Tomorrow (Sunday) top-of-the-table Waitakere United travel to Ngaruawahia to face eighth placed Waikato FC while defending champions Auckland City hosts seventh placed Hawke’s Bay United at Kiwitea Street.