Loaded WaiBOP United is back at FMG Stadium Waikato today in a match that will define our season. We host second-placed Canterbury United and need a victory to ensure we keep up with the play-off pace over a weekend in which the current top four teams play the bottom four. Hawke’s Bay United won 2-0 over the Phoenix yesterday to move up to second, behind clear leaders Auckland City, while Team Wellington will be heavily favoured to beat bottom side, Southern United, today. The result of that match will be known prior to kick-off in this game.
We have played Canterbury United five times for three away defeats and two home victories. Both of those wins were a bit special, with the first (a 2-1 win in Rotorua) coming in our first ever ASB Premiership match and the second seeing us come from behind three times last season and eventually win 4-3 thanks to a last minute Fergus Neil goal.
Loaded WaiBOP United against Canterbury United: P: 5, W: 2, D: 0, L: 3, GF: 6, GA: 9.
Line-ups
Loaded WaiBOP United: Zac Speedy; Scott Hilliar, Tyler Lissette, Ryan Tinsley, Finn Cochran; Alexis Varela, Mario Ilich (Cory Mitchell 72′); Mark Jones (Wade Molony 72′), Sean Morris, Federico Marquez; Stephen Hoyle (Sanni Issa 54′). Subs: Neil Achary (rgk), James Hoyle.
Canterbury United: Coey Turipa (Ruben Parker Hanks 66′), Dan Terris, Julyan Collett (Jesse Dingjan 76′), Tom Schwarz, Aaron Clapham, Gary Ogilvie, Juan Chang, Andre de Jong, Brock Messenger, Andreas Wilson, Angus Kilkolly (Aaron Spain 89′). Subs: Dan Schwarz, Arkin Kaua.
Loaded WaiBOP United 2-3 Canterbury United (ht: 0-2)
WB: Mario Ilich 67′, Issa 89′.
CU: Angus Kilkolly 4′, Andre de Jong 32′, Messenger 90+3′.
