Bottom club Miramar Rangers could yet play a decisive role in the outcome of this year’s Men’s National League.
Rangers’ last two games in the competition are against top sides Wellington Olympic and Auckland City who are current favourites to meet in the competition’s Grand Final on Sunday December 4.
But urging them on will be third-placed Auckland United who need Olympic or the Navy Blues to slip up in at least one of their remaining games so they can sneak a place in the final.
With only two rounds to go, there’s still much to play for.
- Wellington Olympic are chasing a Central League/National League double and will want to win their derby against Miramar when they meet in round nine on Sunday November 27.
- Auckland City are within three games of a quadruple year, in which they can add the national title to the OFC Champions League, Northern League and Chatham Cup.
- Auckland United can still reach the final of the Men’s National League, providing Olympic or City stumble, and it would mark a stellar season in which they were the only club to field sides in both the Men’s and Women’s National Leagues.
- Birkenhead United are fourth on the table and would need all the sides above them to fall into a hole in their remaining games but, mathematically, they remain contenders for a final spot. Melville United would need a miracle to reach the final but like Birkenhead, it’s still mathematically possible for them to qualify.
Here are how the title chasers go into the last two rounds of competition:
Wellington Olympic
— Christchurch United (h)
— Miramar Rangers (a)
Auckland City
— Miramar Rangers (h)
— Melville United (h)
Auckland United
— Birkenhead United (a)
— Napier City Rovers (h)
Birkenhead United
— Auckland United (h)
— Wellington Phoenix (a)
Melville United
— Napier City Rovers (h)
— Auckland City (a)
Standings
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