Key match for Auckland and Canty

PIVOTAL POINTS will be decided in the domestic football league today with a key clash between Canterbury United and Auckland City.

With third-placed Auckland still holding a game in hand over leaders Waitakere and secondplaced Canterbury, defeat in today’s match would see them lose serious ground in the regular season title race.

Canterbury, on home turf, would likely be happy with a draw, which would allow them to retain a fourpoint lead over City and protect their position on the table.

United will need to overturn memories from the first day of the season to do that, however, with Auckland deserved 5-2 winners in November’s opener at Kiwitea Street. But the Cantabrians will be keen to mark coach Keith Braithwaite’s 50th game in charge in positive style.

Elsewhere, in-form Hawke’s Bay host whipping boys Waikato.

Pitting fourth against eighth, Hawke’s Bay are on a five-game winning streak at home and are the league’s only side to remain unbeaten at home this season.

In comparison, they face a Waikato side which has lost five of six games. Defence is a major problem for Waikato, with ceded already.

Finally, the race to avoid the wooden spoon should take a twist as Otago visits Manawatu.

With Waikato, both sides are on the bottom of the league, having had only a single win apiece.

With home advantage Manawatu will be favourites and will be looking to Tom Mosquera, who ironically is the league’s leading scorer with seven goals, to spearhead the attack.

Not helping Otago’s cause is five players carrying injury, including top scorer Joel Stevens.

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