ASB Premiership

Otago United led Auckland City - the top team in the country - 1-0 with eight minutes to go at Forsyth Barr Stadium yesterday. And then the referee intervened.

Derby matches usually generate passion, and yesterday at Forsyth Barr Stadium there was raw emotion as Otago United deservedly beat Canterbury United 1-0.

Goals to Regan Coldicott and Darren Overton earned Otago United a hard-fought 2-0 ASB Premiership win over Hawkes Bay at Tonga Park yesterday.

Otago United clawed back from two goals down to grab a spectacular 3-2 away win over Manawatu in yesterday's ASB Premiership match in Palmerston North.

Two-0 up after 11 minutes, Otago United shocked the highly rated Team Wellington in an ASB Premiership match at Dave Farrington Park yesterday but, as the adrenaline dissipated, it was an uphill battle for Otago as Wellington climbed back to the final 2-2 scoreline.

It was always going to be a mountain to climb for lowly Otago United to play the top ASB Premiership side yesterday at Tahuna Park and, almost true to form, Waitakere United won 2-1.

Both Otago United and Waikato felt they did enough for a win, but the tight ASB Premiership encounter finished 2-2 in hot, energy-sapping conditions at Fred Jones Park in Hamilton on Saturday.

In what was no real surprise or disgrace, Otago United lost 3-1 to the ABS Premiership leader Waitakere in Auckland on Saturday.

It's New Year resolution time for Otago United as it winds up after the holiday break to play the unbeaten Waitakere at Fred Taylor Park at 4pm today.

Two goals in the last six minutes earned Otago United a 2-1 win over Canterbury in a potboiler of an ASB Premiership football match at Tahuna Park yesterday.

Wedding bells for Aaron Burgess mean Otago United is a man down when it plays Wellington at Tahuna Park tomorrow.

After two opening defeats in the ASB Premiership, an intimidating away fixture with Auckland tomorrow might suggest sleepless nights for Otago United coach Malcolm Fleming.