A superbly crafted header by Keryn Jordan earned Auckland its 1-0 win over a plucky Otago side in the New Zealand Football Championship match at Sunnyvale yesterday.
The former South African international was for the most part contained by Otago's gritty defence which was well led by Otago captain Colin Falvey.
But when a left-wing cross was delivered by Milos Nikolic, Jordan ghosted in round the defence and flighted his header back across goal for the 22nd-minute winner.
Yet spectators would be hard pressed to distinguish between the two teams in a first half that was scrappy, with Auckland looking slightly more composed and playing clever one-touch football.
Otago centreback Falvey commented that although it looked pretty " they did not hurt us, and we were comfortable to let them play across us".
Yet it was a combination of the offside flag and brave goalkeeping by Liam Little that denied Chad Coombes two chances to put Auckland further ahead.
Otago was a revitalised team in the second half, however, and penned the Aucklanders deep, with aggressive attacking play that earned a series of free kicks, corners and some huge throw-ins by specialist Tom Jackson.
Stu Kelly had a will of the wisp match in central midfield, carving past Aucklanders, delivering some classy passes and also launching a couple of gymnastic volleys that might have won the game.
And the three-pronged Otago attack of Aaron Burgess, David Dugdale and Barry Gardiner that had toiled for little reward in the first half, sparked into action.
Auckland coach Posa recognised that his changed team was under pressure to win.
"It was absolutely vital for us to win the match, and after a good first half, we lost our rhythm a bit in the second spell. So much of football is in the top four inches [10cm]," he said tapping his temple.
"As Otago stormed back in the second half, we lost our composure, and to be fair they [Otago] played well."
Keeper Spoonley expertly fielded lots of floating crosses and punched clear a series of corners and long throws delivered by Tom Jackson, who can hurl into the goalmouth from almost any distance.
Veteran Blair Scoullar was back from injury and, while mostly patrolling in front of his defence, he made several direct runs up the middle in the second half that drew some rash tackles and subsequent free kicks.
Young left back Tristan Prattley found space and delivered telling balls into the crowded Auckland goalmouth, but stubborn resistance from Ivan Vicelich's massed defence allowed little space.
Otago captain Falvey said: "It was a great finish, and we probably deserved something from the match. But all we got was compliments. We need goals.
"It's a dangerous attitude, to feel satisfaction when you lose. We have another really important match next week the derby against Canterbury and we want more than compliments from that one."
Auckland: 1
Otago United: 0
