Canterbury United ended Waitakere United's 16-match unbeaten run in the New Zealand football Premiership with a 3-2 win in Whenuapai.
Waitakere last lost in last season's semi-final series.
Manawatu's 4-1 loss to Auckland sealed the ignominy of a hat-trick of consecutive wooden spoon finishes.
Canterbury now face Auckland City in the two-legged semi-finals starting next Sunday in Christchurch.
Waitakere face Hawke's Bay in their semi-final series.
