Waikato will have four teams in next season’s Lotto NRFL Men’s Championship after Cambridge clinched promotion in their play-off series with Waiheke United.
Cambridge beat Waiheke United 1-0 in the second leg of their home and away series to complete a 2-0 win on aggregate.
Main photo: The Cambridge squad celebrate their promotion to the Championship. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
The all-important goal came from Rahim Nabizada (17) in the 66th minute, after being played in by forward Josh Clarkin.
It was Cambridge’s 26th win in a 27-match league and cup schedule, with their only loss to Auckland City in the Chatham Cup.
While Cambridge ended their 2024 campaign with a ferry trip to Waiheke Island, Auckland City meet Asian Champions Al Ain in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in the United Arab Emirates on Monday.
Cambridge’s unbeaten run in league and play-off games now extends to 39 matches, and next April, they’ll try to extend that sequence in their first fixture in the Lotto NRFL Men’s Championship.
Cambridge also have the chance for a promotion double with the club also featuring in the two-legged promotion play-off for the Lotto NRFL Women’s Championship.
Cambridge and Onehunga Mangere United play the first of their home and away series on Sunday.
PREVIEW: Onehunga Mangere and Cambridge to contest women’s play-offs >>>>
Watch the match
The game was streamed by WaiheTV’s YouTube channel:
Meanwhile, 2024 Championship runners-up Manukau United were beaten in their play-off with Manurewa, consigning them to another season in the competition.
Manurewa’s play-off win preserves their place in the Northern League.
Here are next year’s participating clubs in the Lotto NRFL Men’s Championship:
- Melville United (relegated from Northern League)
- Hamilton Wanderers (relegation from Northern League)
- Manukau United
- Ngaruawahia United
- Hibiscus Coast
- Northern Rovers
- Onehunga Mangere United
- Ellerslie
- Mt Albert Ponsonby
- North Shore United
- Takapuna
- Cambridge (promoted)
Result
Game played on Saturday September 21, 2024
Waiheke United 0
Cambridge 1 (Rahim Nabizada 66′)
*Cambridge win 2-0 on aggregate over two legs
Fixture
Game to be played on Sunday September 22, 2024
Lotto NRFL Women’s Championship
First leg
Onehunga Mangere United v Cambridge
Mangere Domain, Mangere, 1pm
*Second leg to be played at Cambridge’s John Kerkhof Park on Sunday September 29.
This story was first published on September 21, 2024.
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