Western Springs have shaken up the NZF National League Championship (NLC) ladder with an upset of Auckland City.
Springs gave their outside chances of reaching the NLC final a boost with a 2-1 victory over the Navy Blues in Round 6 at Auckland's Kiwitea Street on Sunday, closing within four points of the lead with three rounds remaining.
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Former Auckland City midfielder Reid Drake equalised in the 87th minute, finishing off a rebound from goalkeeper Conor Tracey, before English centre-back Patrick Tobin latched on to a cross from another former Cityzen, Emiliano Tade, in the 95th minute for the match-winner.
Earlier, after Stipe Ukich had hit the crossbar 10 minutes earlier, Nathan Lobo put City up in the 74th minute, with a well-struck low left-foot free-kick from just outside the penalty area.
With the three points, Springs moved to nine, sitting fifth, four points behind City and Birkenhead United and two back of Coastal Spirit and Napier City Rovers.
Birkenhead got two goals in a four-minute span from NLC Golden Boot co-leader Daniel Bunch and Jaylen Rodwell to defeat defending champions Wellington Olympic at Martin Luckie Park on Saturday.
Birko joined City with 13 points, lying second on goal difference, while The Greeks remained on eight points, with their title defence on life support.
Coastal and Rovers remained in the thick of the race for the top-two with 2-1 home victories in Round 6.
Coastal held off Eastern Suburbs in Christchurch, with David Yoo and Joe Hoole scoring goals, while Napier City came from a goal down to defeat Cashmere Technical at Bluewater Stadium on Sunday.
Bunch, Yoo and Technical's Garbhan Coughlan, who scored in Napier, are tied for the league lead in goals with five, followed by Birkenhead's Monty Patterson and Coastal's Alejandro Steinwascher.
In the weekend's other match, the Wellington Phoenix Reserves defeated Western Suburbs at Lower Hutt's Fraser Park, with first-team defender Oskar van Hattum setting the tone with a 19th-minute goal.
In the Women’s National League Championship (WNLC), the top-four sides all won in Round 6, with Auckland United and Waterside Karori staying on track to reach the final.
United scored a goal in each half in 2-0 victory over Wellington United at Keith Hay Park, while the Docksiders came from two goals down to knock off the Canterbury United Pride 3-2 at David Farrington Park.
Auckland United, on 16 points, likely only need one win from their remaining three matches to reach the WNLC final, while Waterside Karori have West Coast Rangers, Eastern Suburbs and the Pride breathing down their necks.
Shannon Henson scored a pair of late goals in Rangers’ 3-1 win over Southern United in Dunedin to remain three points out of a final spot.
Jessica Innes also scored two goals in three minutes in the second half as Suburbs defeated Western Springs 3-1 at Madills Farm on Saturday.
In the battle of the winless teams, the Wellington Phoenix Women’s Reserves collected their first points with a 5-0 win over Central Football, with Ella McMillan scoring twice in the first 10 minutes.
NZF NATIONAL LEAGUE RESULTS - ROUND 6
Napier City Rovers 2 Cashmere Technical 1
Birkenhead United 2 Wellington Olympic 1
Coastal Spirit 2 Eastern Suburbs 1
Western Springs 2 Auckland City 1
Phoenix Reserves 2 Western Suburbs 0
NZF WOMEN'S NATIONAL LEAGUE RESULTS - ROUND 6
Waterside Karori 3 Canterbury United Pride 2
Auckland United 2 Wellington United 0
Phoenix Reserves 5 Central Football 0
West Coast Rangers 3 Southern United 1
Eastern Suburbs 3 Western Springs 1