Central United continue to stalk NRF Men’s Championship leaders Papatoetoe after a 2-1 win at lowly Uni-Mount Bohemian’s Bill McKinlay Park.
Knowing Papatoetoe had increased their lead to six points with a Friday night win at Ranui Swanson, Central headed to Mt Wellington on Saturday knowing they had to win to keep within reach.
And they could so easily have come unstuck as they had to play two-thirds of the match with only 10 men.
The game started well for Central who took the lead through Linus Backman in the 25th minute.
Main photo: Linus Backman … opened the scoring. File photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
They took that 1-0 lead into half-time.
As the hour mark approached, things went awry for Central.
Matthew Metzger was red carded for denying Uni-Mount a goalscoring opportunity.
Keith Anderson scored from the penalty spot, and it was tied 1-1.
Coach Paul Posa made an immediate change, introducing Christian Romero from the bench.
Romero put Central ahead in the 78th minute.
As the clock wound down, Uni-Mount did not help their cause when Ahmad Zara was dismissed for a second yellow.
Prasad double gets Rangers home
Two goals from Eninish Aniket Prasad fired South Auckland Rangers to a 2-1 win against Lynn-Avon United at Rongomai Park.
Prasad scored in the 12th and 24th minutes before Harrison Taylor pulled back a goal just before the half-time break.
A scoreless second half meant Rangers stay in third spot, and with games in hand on their higher-placed rivals.
‘Te Atatu get the points against 10-man Papakura
Te Atatu romped to a 4-0 win under the lights at Papakura City’s McLennan Park, scoring twice in each half.
Mitchell Callaghan opened the scoring in the third minute and Matthew Bowman doubled Te Atatu’s lead half an hour later.
In the second spell, John Curwen extended the visitors’ lead to 3-0 in the 56th minute.
Papakura’s job became more difficult with the straight red issued to Munit Krishna in the 75th minute, after he was judged to have retaliated to a foul.
Papakura’s woes continued when Canaan Edwards own-goaled with two minutes left.
Both sides remain firmly in midtable.
Results
Games played on Saturday July 30, 2022
Uni-Mount Bohemian 1 (Keith Anderson 58′)
Central United 2 (Linus Backman 25′, Christian Romero 78′)
South Auckland Rangers 2 (Evinish Aniket Prasad 12′, 24′)
Lynn-Avon United 1 (Harrison Taylor 45′)
Papakura City 0
Te Atatu 4 (Mitchell Callaghan 3′, Matthew Bowman 32′, John Curwen 56′, own goal 88′)
Game played on Friday July 29, 2022
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Ranui Swanson 1 (Daniel Faure 88′)
Papatoetoe 3 (Louis Corkill 16′, Ash Gower-Rudman 41′, Ahmad Alshamsi 82′)
Standings
Thanks
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