25 Apr 2010

Waitakere too good for 10-man Canterbury

7:09 am on 25 April 2010

Waitakere United's beaten Canterbury United 3-1 in west Auckland to win the New Zealand Football Championship Grand Final for the second time.

The Canterbury striker Tom Lancaster scored in the seventh minute after a defensive error from Waitakere's player-coach Neil Emblen.

But Waitakere created more chances and equalised in the 34th minute with the first of the Solomon Island international Benjamin Totori's two goals.

Canterbury's chances of a first Grand Final win faded when midfielder Paul Dirou was sent off just before half-time for a dangerous challenge.

Alan Pearce put the hosts ahead early in the second spell before Totori made sure of the win.