Auckland City

Waitakere United

1

3

Phil Edgington 2'

Allan Pearce 22'
Ryan de Vries 35', 51'

by Bob Pearce at Kiwitea Street asbpremiership.co.nz

AUCKLAND - Waitakere took a five-point lead at the top of the ASB Premiership with a fully deserved 3-1 away win over Auckland City at Kiwitea St today.
 

Down a goal after 90 seconds, the defending champions struck back midway through the first half and controlled the game from then on. It was hard to take for the big home crowd but to be fair the margin probably flattered Auckland City.

The two teams meet again in an OFC Champions League clash across town next week and City have the added worry of injuries to the tricky Luis Corrales and All White David Mulligan, who flew in from a trial in Singapore to take the field only to limp off in the 61st minute.

The Kiwitea St mood matched the brilliant sunny weather in the opening stanza after Mulligan provided a pinpoint corner from the left and the tall Phil Edginton glanced in a header for the opening goal.
 

The home team could have doubled their advantage soon after but were thwarted by the goalkeeping of Danny Robinson. He had originally been named on the bench but when Andy Ralph injured a finger in the warm-up he took the field from the start.
 

Five minutes into the game he was at his best to save a fierce shot from Alex Feneridis and before the half hour he made an even better stop from Corrales. But by then Waitakere were level, again from a set piece. Zane Sole delivered a left-wing corner that found Allan Pearce unmarked for the simplest of headed goals in the 22nd minute.
 

Waitakere took the lead in the 35th minute thanks to the persistence of teenaged winger Ryan de Vries. He was confronted by two defenders on the edge of the Auckland penalty area but managed to scavenge the ball from their feet and deftly slipped it past goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley.
 

He earned man of the match status soon after the break when again he was rewarded for persistence. He made ground on the left, had his own shot blocked and when Roy Krishna's follow-up was foiled he was on hand to provide the finish.
 

That was it as far as the result was concerned. Auckland barely troubled the Waitakere defence, which was anchored by the in-form captain, Jason Rowley, Jack Pelter and Aaron Scott.
 

Referee Chris Kerr who dealt six yellows in the first 45, lost the deal in the second as the passion went out of the game, which finished with a whimper rather than a bang as Waitakere kept their control.
 

Waitakere player-coach Neil Emblen was delighted to remain rooted to the bench for the second game in a row. He quipped: "If my career is over at this level, I'll take that. I always said I wouldn't stand in the way of anyone and every player is performing."
 

He had special praise for de Vries - "I'd hate to mark him" - and Pearce, whose work rate was so impressive.
 

Co-coaches Aaron McFarland and Ramon Tribulietx believed their team were better in the opening half hour but conceding two soft goals left them with no way back. They look forward to the O-League clash rating that a higher priority for their team.
 

Tribulietx said: "Football always gives you a second chance." Auckland fans will be hoping he's right.

Auckland City

V

Waitakere United

1 Jacob Spoonley (GK)

1 Danny Robinson (GK)

3 Ian Hogg

2 Jason Rowley

4 Sam Campbell

3 Aaron Scott

5 Phil Edgington

4 Tim Myers (Butler 66)

7 James Pritchett

6 Jack Pelter

8 David Mulligan (Bawdekar 61)

7 Martin Bullock

10 Luis Corrales

8 Chris Bale

11 Daniel Koprivcic (Avendano 57)

10 Allan Pearce (Gwyther 75)

13 Alex Feneridis

12 Roy Krishna

17 Adam McGeorge

18 Zane Sole

23 Adam Thomas (Dickinson 55)

20 Ryan de Vries (Lovemore 86)

Substitutes

Substitutes

9 Francisco Avendano (in 57)

28 Andy Ralph (RGK)

12 Matthew Upton (RGK)

13 Michael Gwyther (in 75)

14 Adam Dickinson (in 55)

16 Neil Emblen

19 Daniel Morgan

17 Jake Butler (in 66)

26 Aaron Bawdekar (in 61)

25 Sean Lovemore (in 86)

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

0 mins

David Mulligan back from trialling in Singapore on Saturday night, named in starting lineup for Auckland. Jake Butler after similar trip, on bench for Waitakere.

0 mins

Beautiful sunny Auckland day. NZF chairman Frank van Hattum in crowd, along with All White assistant coach Brian Turner, former national coach Allan Jones, former All White Bill de Graaf, former Auckland striker of the 50s Jack Gommers.

0 mins

Late change by Waitakere. Danny Robinson in goal in place of Andy Ralph

 Waitakere playing towards the clubrooms with a cross wind from the bowls club.

1 min

Right wing corner to Auckland. GOAL! as Phil Edgington heads in from Mulligan corner

3 min

Krishna earns corner for Waitakere. Sole's cross booted wide.

5 mins

Feneridis shot  well saved by Robinson.

7 mins

Freekick to Auckland outside area, Mulligan's ball glanced wide by Koprivcic

11 mins

Yellow card Edgington for tackle on Krishna. Bullock freekick easily saved. 

12 mins

Right wing corner to Waitakere, Sole's corner cleared and return caught by goalie.

16 mins

Freekick to Auckland, Pearce encroaches and earns yellow, Mulligan shoots over bar

18 mins

Plenty of ac=tion at both ends but midfield a mess.

20

Bale tackle on Mulligan earns yellow, cleared then McGeorge earns a card as Waitakere breaks back.

22 mins

GOAL! Left wing corner by Sole headed in by Pearce unopposed.

26 mins

Corrales shot brilliantly saved by Robinson, who then grabs corner

28 mins

Good run by de Vries earns another corner for Waitakere. Good delivery but fielded by goalie

29 mins

Midget chase me being played at the moment as both teams lose their shape. Long balls wasted.

32 mins

Pelter fouls Koprivcic. Corrales shot hits bar with Robinson stretched full length.

33 mins

Mulligan gives aenefit.way possession but Waitakere unable to b

35 mins

GOAL! Ryan de Vries persists in attacking two defenders, the ball springs free and he beats Spoonley from just inside area

41 mins

Auckland stand like statues as Waitakere take two shots after freekick, finally desperate clearance.

45 mins

One minute to be added.

45 plus one

Yellow for Rowley as ref blows for the break. Waitakere ahead 2-1, probably deserve their lead but too many yellows as science gave way to brute force.

No changes at the break. City now playing towards clubhouse

47 mins

De Vries too quick for defence on left but cross weak.

48 mins

Short corner by Auckland, Thomas delivers but Koprivcic heads over top.

51 mins

GOAL! De Vries makes ground on left, shot parried to krishna, cleared partially to de Vries who scores his second.

55 mins

Thomas replaced by Dickinson for Auckland 

61 mins

Mulligan off injured, replaced by Bawdekar

64 mins

Good work by krishna delivers ball on plate to Sole but the chance goes begging.

66 mins

Myers replaced by Butler

68 mins

Great ball by Krishna picks out de Vries on left but he shoots millimetres wide for his hat-trick.

73 mins

Freekick to Waitakere on edge of area but Bullock's kick is scrambled clear. 

74 mins

Auckland are barely putting two passes together and the giveaways are embarrassing.

76 mins

Gwyther on for Pearce

82 mins

Avendano freekick headed wide by Auckland in rare attack on Waitakere goal.

86 mins

Lovemore on for de Vries, my man of the match.

89 mins

Krishna inches away from making it four as he sprints clear of the defence on the left.

90 mins

Four minutes to be added

90 plus three

First corner of half for Waitakere but no profit.

90 plus four

Final whistle and a valuable three points for Waitakere. Auckland will be very disappointed. They have a chance for revenge next weekend in an O-League game at Waitakere.