Auckland United celebrated a remarkable day for their club, confirming a place in the men’s National League while also securing a spot in the Kate Sheppard Cup final.
While their women were winning a cup semi-final 5-2 at home (click here for details), the men were at Allen Hill Stadium, beating North Shore United 6-0 to make sure of a top four placing in the Northern League.
The win means three of the four qualifiers from the Northern League are confirmed with title winners Auckland City assured of a place, along with Birkenhead United who can’t be caught by both Melville United and Hamilton Wanderers because they play each other in the last game of their seasons.
Main photo: Auckland United head coach Jose Figueira … taken his club into the National League. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
Here’s our round-up of latest results:
Manukau edge Takapuna 3-2 … again
Manukau United and Takapuna must have had a feeling of deja vu when they played out a 3-2 thriller at Walter Massey Park.
When they last met, in May, Manukau came away from Takapuna’s Taharoto Park with a 3-2 win.
This time they had to do it the hard way after finding themselves 2-0 down within half an hour.
Bronson Kelly, who missed the May match, opened for Takapuna with a goal in the 8th minute.
In the 27th minute, Kelly doubled the visitors’ lead.
But Takapuna’s joy didn’t last long — within a few minutes, Manukau had pulled back a goal, credited as an own goal by Taka ‘keeper Liam Anderson.
Then, as the first half went into added time, Keegan Linderbook scored for Manukau, sending the teams into half-time deadlocked at 2-2.
Boon Ozawa, an early season signing from Bay Olympic, found the winner for Manukau with eight minutes to go.
Watch the replay:
Strong start sees Olympic beat Waiheke
Early goals got Bay Olympic off to a strong start as they beat relegated Waiheke United 3-1 at Olympic Park.
Captain Thomas Boss put Olympic ahead in the 7th minute before Jayden Scott doubled the margin 10 minutes later.
The home side relaxed as the game headed for half-time and Waiheke capitalised with a goal in first-half stoppage time, through Bert de Raat.
The second half got a bit feisty with three Waiheke players and two Olympic players going into referee Andrew Lamberth’s book, joining a first half card for another visiting player.
The result was confirmed by a penalty in the 88th minute, put away by Olympic’s Callum McNeill.
Auckland United rout North Shore United
United confirmed their place in the National League with an easy win at North Shore United’s Allen Hill Stadium.
Andrew Blake got the scoring underway midway through the first half.
Josh Redfearn and Regont Murati added more goals to give United a 3-0 lead at the break.
In the second spell, Redfearn and William Stephen scored goals within a minute of each other, stretching United’s lead to 5-0 with 12 minutes to go.
There was still time for Nic Zambrano to add the sixth, in added time.
Results
Games played Saturday August 20, 2022
Manukau United 3 (own goal 30′, Keegan Linderbook 45+1′, Boon Ozawa 82′)
Takapuna 2 (Bronson Kelly 8′, 27′)
Bay Olympic 3 (Thomas Boss 7′, Jayden Scott 18′, Callum McNeill 88′)
Waiheke United 1 (Bert de Raat 45+2′)
North Shore United 0
Auckland United 6 (Andrew Blake 23′, Josh Redfearn 37′, 78′, Regont Murati 43′, William Stephen 78′, Nicolas Zambrano 90’+1′)
Standings
Thanks
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