‘Every game’s a cup final’ for Tasman
TASMAN NEED THREE FROM FOUR
Hat-trick hero Paul Ifill believes his team will have to beat either Eastern Suburbs or Auckland City to reach the top four after Tasman United’s star set a nine-point target from their remaining four games. Of the contenders currently outside the top four, Tasman appear to be the only one with a realistic shot of playing finals football.
But in order to do that, Tasman will have to upset at least one of the two of the teams currently occupying top four spots, with their remaining matches against Eastern, Auckland, Waita¯kere and the Phoenix reserves.
‘‘We probably need win three out of the last four, which is going to be tough,’’ said Ifill, who added that Tasman head to Bill McKinlay Park to face Eastern with renewed confidence after beating Hawke’s Bay 5-2 to keep their season alive.
‘‘I think we probably need to win this weekend, which would put us three behind them and then obviously depending on the Canterbury result it could mean we catch them. But if you lose this weekend then Eastern Suburbs are too many points away and if Canterbury go and win then you’re going to end up six points behind them, so it’s a bit like every week is a cup final at the moment.’’
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CAUSES CHAOS
Get ready, because this league’s about to get messy. There are just 11 matches in the ISPS Handa Premiership between now and March 11, as a result of the OFC Champions League, which takes Auckland City and Team Welling- ton out of action between February 24 and March 4. There are four matches this weekend and next, but then only two and one, before everyone returns for the final two rounds of the regular season.
The stop-start schedule is sure to make the competition seem as if it’s dragging on, especially as the top four are all but locked in, barring a late surge from Tasman United.
TOP FOUR SET TO BE LOCKED IN
If this weekend’s matches go according to league position, three of the top four spots could be secured come tomorrow evening.
If Eastern Suburbs beat Tasman United, Team Wellington beat Southern United, and Auckland City beat or draw with Hawke’s Bay United, Suburbs, Team Wellington and City will all be assured of a place in the semifinals, and it will be down to Canterbury United and Tasman for the last spot. Even if it doesn’t happen this weekend, the playoff race is unlikely to go down to the wire, but there will still be plenty to play for - a home semifinal could be crucial, and there is also the matter of the the Champions League place on offer to the team that finishes first at the end of the regular season.
CITY STRIKER FAVOURITE FOR GOLDEN BOOT
Can anyone catch Emiliano Tade in the golden boot race?
For a while this season it looked like the Auckland City striker would be neck-and-teck with teammate Ryan de Vries for the honour. But with de Vries now in Japan, the Argentine has a clear lead on the chasing pack. With four matches left in the regular season, he has 14, four more than Eastern Suburbs’ Andre de Jong and Tasman United’s Paul Ifill.
Canterbury United’s Stephen Hoyle and Waita¯kere United’s Keegan Linderboom both have seven, and round out the top five, if you ignore de Vries and his eight, which won’t be added to.
VELAPHI COULD FACE CANTERBURY
The Phoenix reserves should have the services of a 100-game A-League veteran tomorrow after new signing Tando Velaphi was not included in the travelling squad to face Western Sydney Wanderers.
With Keegan Smith providing the back-up for Lewis Italiano, Velaphi will likely take the field for the Phoenix reserves in their match against Canterbury United at David Farrington Park.