A goal in the first minute of the second half killed off any hope Otago United had of scoring an upset win over league leader Waitakere United in Auckland yesterday.
Otago fought hard but could not stay with the classy Waitakere outfit, which ran out a 3-0 winner in stifling heat at Douglas Field.
The Auckland-based side was 1-0 up at the break.
The win puts Waitakere eight points clear at the top of the table after it scored its eighth win of the season, while the loss sends Otago back to the bottom of the table.
It now has a worse goal-difference than Canterbury, with both teams on eight points.
It was always going to be hard for the visiting side as Waitakere is now on a 19-match unbeaten run, and has conceded just six goals all season.
Otago coach Terry Phelan had hoped for a more resolute defence but he was out of luck as the league's top-scorers eventually found the target.
Playing in front of little more than 200 people, United started with three players up front and had a couple of chances.
Defender Mike Smith was forced off halfway through the first half with injury and was replaced by Tom Connor.
Shortly afterwards, the home side went ahead when striker Benjamin Totori rifled the ball home from the edge of the area.
United came back well after conceding the goal but could not get on even terms before the half-time whistle.
Less than a minute into the second half, Roy Krishna showed speed down the left wing and beat Otago keeper Liam Little with a well-placed shot.
The goal sucked the life out of the Otago side, which put Blair Scoullar on for Tom Jackson up front.
With 20min left, Waitakere put the icing on the cake when substitute Paul Seaman set up Allan Pearce to rifle the ball home.
Little did well shortly afterwards to keep out a shot from Seaman, while at the other end Otago striker Aaron Burgess could not beat keeper Richard Gillespie.
The game died down near the end as players wilted in the heat.
Former Otago United skipper John Chisholm, who has signed for Waitakere, did not play.
Otago United does not have much time to dwell on the loss, as it faces Wellington at Sunnyvale tomorrow afternoon, the match kicking off at 3pm.
United does have the bonus of skipper Colin Falvey available after sitting out a two-match suspension.
Wellington is third bottom in the table, but is six points clear of United.
Waitakere United 3 (Benjamin Totori, Roy Krishna, Allan Pearce), Otago United 0.
Half-time: 1-0.
