Otago United yesterday discovered that sometimes luck can be in short supply at a time when you are struggling.
Just when it was in spitting distance of a rare, valuable away win in the New Zealand Football Championship, Otago let the three points slip in the game against Wellington at Newtown Park.
One minute from the end of normal time, Wellington striker Luis Corrales pounced in the penalty box to tap in and give the home side a fortuitous draw.
It could have got worse for Otago. In injury time, goalkeeper Liam Little miscued a clearance, leaving Wellington's Peter Halstead with a simple finish to win the game. Happily for United, Halstead's poor effort flashed past the post.
The draw keeps Otago at the bottom of the NZFC table on four points, one behind seventh-placed Canterbury and five behind the three teams tied at the top.
It is far from a gloomy situation but the competition has been shortened this season and Otago needs to start finding the back of the net - and winning - if it is to be more than a makeweight.
United appeared to have the game in hand after taking a lead through Stu Kelly just 7min after the half-time break.
Wellington goalkeeper Phil Imray managed a dreadful kick that was quickly snaffled by Kelly. From 35m, he belted the ball back and saw it nestle into the corner of the net.
Kelly was a late pick-up for Otago, having transferred from Canterbury United. He probably should have scored for Otago much earlier in the game but kicked over the bar from close range.
Otago's Tom Jackson caused Imray some problems with his long throws into the mixer, and Jackson also had a cracking shot on goal on 32min.
The shots kept coming for Otago, but after it took the 1-0 lead, United looked content to sit back and protect the score.
That strategy working until the dying minutes when Wellington got an equaliser it hardly deserved.
Otago's next game in the NZFC is against Hawkes Bay at Sunnyvale this Sunday.
• Otago United 1 (Stu Kelly), Wellington 1 (Luis Corrales). Half-time: 0-0.
