Southern United will go into the Christmas break at the bottom of the ASB Premiership ladder after suffering a third straight loss in Invercargill yesterday.
The 3-1 loss to Canterbury United at Rugby Park was its fifth in its first six games of the season.
Its only three points came from a 1-0 win against Wellington Phoenix, which is perched one spot above Southern United in the standings on four points.
To make matters worse, Southern United lost outgoing captain Matt Joy to a knee injury in the last 10 minutes, which could jeopardise his place at the Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua.
He was set to start an 18-week course there next month before moving to Auckland in May to take up a job with the police.
However, Joy, who missed most of last season with a knee injury, will not be able to attend if his latest injury is serious.
Southern United coach Mike Fridge did not know the extent of the injury after the match, but said his knee was strapped and iced when he left the field.
‘‘Hopefully, it's not too serious. Your heart is in your mouth when he goes down because it's his last game before he goes to the police force.''
As in last week's 4-1 loss to Wellington, Southern United opened the scoring yesterday, when defender Jude Fitzpatrick got on the end of a corner in the 27th minute.
His well-timed header made it 1-0 and was well deserved after the home side's strong start.
However, the Dragons hit back through national under-20 midfielder Andre de Jong five minutes later to send the teams into the sheds all tied up.
Canterbury's Angus Kilkolly was denied by the crossbar early in the second half, before Southern United goalkeeper Tom Batty made a brilliant save from a Juan Chang shot moments later.
Rhys Ruka came close to putting the home side back in front in the 56th minute but Canterbury goalkeeper Coey Turipa denied him with a sprawling fingertip save.
It appeared the match was headed for a draw with 10 minutes left, but Canterbury substitute Atkin Kaua found the back of the net to give his team the lead.
Joy was on the deck injured when Kaua scored, and Southern United finished the match a man down because it had no substitutions left.
De Jong made it 3-1 with a curling free kick a few minutes later, after Batty was adjudged to have handled the ball outside the area.‘‘He was throwing the ball out overarm,'' Fridge said.
‘‘He was standing in the box and as he throws the ball the linesman said his hand was outside the box ... I think that was so petty it's unbelievable,'' Fridge said.
‘‘Last week, it was 4-1 and this week it was 3-1, but with 10min to go last week, and this week it was 1-1. It's disappointing.''
Like Joy, midfielder Tim McLennan, who is heading overseas in the new year, played his last game for the team.
Fridge can sign replacement players when the transfer window opens on January 5. Southern United's next game is away to Auckland City on January 10.
ASB Premiership
The scores
Canterbury United 3
Andre de Jong 32, 85; Atkin Kaua 80
Southern United 1
Jude Fitzpatrick 27
Halftime: 1-1
