Southern United was king hit by an early goal and never recovered, to go down 3 1 to Waitakere United in Auckland yesterday.
Southern coach Mike Fridge had hoped his side might score first for a change, but Dylan Manickum, an All White international futsal player, pounced on a weak clearance and then doubled his tally in the 12th minute, for a 2 0 scoreline.
A late disappointment for Southern was that influential midfielder Eder Franchini Pasten was declared unfit, and did not travel.
However, recently reintroduced centreback Jude Fitzpatrick narrowed the gap early in the second half, with a 60th minute goal that put Southern back in the hunt.
It was looking to do the double over Waitakere, after winning against the mob from Auckland earlier in the season.
Fitzpatrick's strike gave the side hope but there was no fairy tale ending, as Waitakere survived Southern's resurgence and then sealed the win late in the match, when Jake Porter scored in the 82nd minute.
Frustratingly, Fridge reckoned that Southern's second half was a great improvement.
''We probably shaded them in the second half and might have got something from the game,'' he said.
The coach replaced Josh Stewart and Nick Hindson with Ross Howard and Andrew Ridden, then pushed Victor Da Costa further forward.
''We had our chances. Tom Connor hit a terrific shot, Ridden also tested their keeper with a great hit, and big Jude [Fitzpatrick], apart from scoring, powered another header just over their crossbar.''
Southern had no luck at all. Waitakere's first goal came from a rebounded clearance, and the third goal actually bounced off the referee, setting up the home side for a swift break from which it scored.
Life gets no easier for Fridge, since next week's match is another very tough away encounter against champion side Auckland City, which has gone back at the top of the ASB Premiership after the latest round of matches.
Auckland beat Canterbury United 1 0 in Christchurch on Saturday as it returns to its imposing form.
ASB Premiership
The scores
Waitakere United 3
Dylan Manickum 2, Jake Porter
Southern United 1
Jude Fitzpatrick
Halftime: 2-0
