Dragons beaten but clinch playoffs place

The Canterbury United Dragons have clinched a national league playoffs place for the first time in four years and can still finish third despite a heartbreaking loss yesterday in Wellington.

Canterbury and Team Wellington had their top-four berth sewn up on Saturday when South Island stablemates Otago United could only draw 1-1 at home to Youngheart Manawatu.

The result at Porirua Park was essentially academic, but Wellington pinched a 2-1 win when former Canterbury striker Michael Fifii scored a controversial late goal.

"It's not sour grapes, but we all thought he was offside," Canterbury coach Keith Braithwaite said. "Greg Draper headed the ball forward, we'd all pushed up and Fifii was standing in front of [Canterbury keeper] Tom Batty. He controlled it and stuck it away and the referee gave a goal."

The sour finish did not diminish the coach's delight at securing a New Zealand Football Championships playoffs place for the first time since 2005-06, when Canterbury went all the way to the grand final.

"We deserve to be there. But we don't want it to stop here."

Braithwaite said the fourth-ranked Dragons would finish third if they beat defending champions Auckland City at English Park on Sunday.

That would allow them to avoid Auckland in the semifinals and play Waitakere United instead, who the Dragons thumped 4-0 in the round robin. Waitakere lead the ladder by one point but have completed their campaign. Auckland, who crushed Hawke's Bay United 6-1 yesterday, have two games to play and should finish top of the table.

Braithwaite rested midfield dynamo Andy Pitman yesterday because he was at peril of another caution, which would earn him a two-match ban and put him out of the semifinals.

Pitman will probably not be risked against Auckland and Braithwaite could also consider cotton-wooling other key men, with Gareth Rowe, Matt Boyd and Russell Kamo also on the cusp of suspension.

The first-year Dragons coach said Pitman's replacement, Glen Collins, was outstanding yesterday.

Canterbury had a couple of good first-half chances playing with a strong wind at their backs. Aaron Clapham shaved the post with a 25m freekick, with All Whites keeper James Bannatyne rooted to his goal-line.

Wellington dominated the second half but Batty made a string of superb saves. He was finally beaten in the 71st minute when Chris Bale struck home a 25m sizzler.

But Braithwaite was pleased his team bounced straight back to equalise in the 74th minute. Big Paul Dirou stepped up and blasted a left-footed drive from the edge of the box to leave the Dragons looking at a draw until Fifii netted against his former team-mates in the 85th minute.

- © Fairfax NZ News