Late strike nets win for Auckland
Auckland have made it two wins from two in the National Women’s Football League.
Coming off a bye, they beat Southern United, 2-1, at Tahuna Park in Dunedin yesterday, thanks to an added-time strike by Lucy Carter.
Canterbury United Pride continued their perfect start, beating Central, 7-0, at Massey University in Palmerston North to make it three wins – and three clean sheets – in three outings.
On Saturday, the Northern Lights notched their first win of the season, 4-1, over Capital at Petone Memorial Park in Wellington.
Carter’s late goal completed a second-half comeback for Auckland that began when Sam Muirhead drew them level just after the hour mark.
Southern had gone ahead courtesy of an own goal midway through the first half, but couldn’t hold on to salvage a point in the face of some strong Auckland pressure.
The Pride were always expected to rack up a big win over Central and so it proved, as they scored three before the break and four after it.
Amelia Abbott got them going just three minutes in, while Gabi Rennie, Annalie Longo, Cody Taylor and Jayda Stewart were the others who scored, with Central contributing two own goals.
The Pride head into their first bye at the top of the table, having scored 17 goals while conceding none, though their wins have come against the three teams that currently occupy the bottom three places.
Northern fell behind 24 minutes into their clash with Capital, when Emma Main scored for the hosts, but they were back level almost immediately through Helena Kelderman.
Defender Claudia Bunge put them into the lead just before halftime, with Liz Savage and Sam Tawharu finding the back of the net in the final five minutes to run up the score.
This weekend, Northern host Central at Mcfetridge Park in Auckland, while a doubleheader takes place at Mclennan Park in the city’s south, with Waikato-bay of Plenty returning to action after a weekend off against Southern United, and Auckland seeking to continue their perfect start against Capital.