Auckland City

YoungHeart Manawatu

3

1

Own goal (Tozer) 10'
Angel Berlanga 23'
Daniel Morgan 40'

Michael White 61'

by Bob Pearce at Kiwitea Street

Auckland City got themselves back on their usual track with a 3-1 victory over Young Heart Manawatu at Kiwitea Street.

After four games without a win, it was a welcome change of fortune but it further increased the agony for the visitors who have yet to score a point in the ASB Premiership this season.

The outcome was decided in the first half when Auckland scored three unanswered goals. Manawatu scored the only goal of the second half but that was scant consolation for a young team under pressure.

They seemed to have turned a corner when they beat the Phoenix A team 3-0 but the confidence gained from that result drained away just 10 minutes into their Auckland encounter when a botched clearance resulted in an own goal.

That was bad enough but 13 minutes later they left defender Angel Berlanga unmarked at a corner and he converted a free header.

The home side could have been further ahead but for a couple of excellent saves from Matt Borren, but in the 40th minute he sighted a Daniel Morgan low drive from outside the area too late and 3-0 was a mountain too high to climb.

To their credit the visitors more than held their own in the second half, defending further up the field and slowing Auckland's clinical buildup. They had their reward when Michael White, so often a lone ranger up front, made a solo break and had his powerful shot deflected by Berlanga with Jacob Spoonley rooted to the spot.

You could point to one factor in Auckland's form turnaround: the return of Ivan Vicelich, their captain and guiding influence on the field. He was named Sport Auckland's player of the year during the week and he lived up to that designation.

Manawatu made the mistake, particularly in the first half of falling back in defence, allowing Vicelich's role of central defender to morph into midfield maestro and he relished the chance to dominate proceedings.

"He's a great player but want you can't measure is his leadership quality," said Auckland co-coach Aaron McFarland. "We were due a result and some of the players will be disappointed they didn't get on the score sheet.

"We wanted to put our foot on their neck and it wasn't for want of trying. We created enough chances.

"Against Hawkes Bay next week our players are looking for revenge and with two suspended players back selections will be up for grabs."

Manawatu coach Bob Sova took negatives from the first half and positives from the second.

"Their first goal was a soft one and the second came from a set play, which is never good. Even with the third goal we had five players behind the ball. In the second half we played a lot higher and won a lot more ball."

Sova believes his young squad needs time to develop and he looks to improvement after Christmas.

Auckland City

V

YoungHeart Manawatu

1 Jacob Spoonley (GK)

1 Matt Borren (GK)

2 Angel Berlanga

10 Adam Cowan

6 Suart Kelly

4 Colin Falvey

7 James Pritchett(Koprivcic 72)

3 Matt Smith

10 Luis Corrales (Milne 59')

17 Brook Tozer

14 Adam Dickinson

20 Willie Hodge (Steele 78')

15 Ivan Vicelich

8 Nathan Cooksley

16 Takayuki Omi (R Kelly 89')

5 Josh Chettleburgh (Fraser 78')

17 Adam McGeorge

7 Jason Hayne

19 Daniel Morgan

18 Dale Higham

23 Adam Thomas

9 Michael White

Substitutes

Substitutes

5 Phil Edginton

19 Ben Wilkes

11 Daniel Koprivcic (on 72')

11 Hamish Mackay

12 Patrick George (RGK)

16 Michael Fraser (on 78')

22 Andrew Milne (on 59')

21 Jared Bloor

30 Rory Kelly (on 89')

25 Jono Steele (on 78')

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

0 mins

Fine but stiff westerly wind at Kiwitea

0 also

Ivan Vicelich starts but no David Mulligan, Daniel Koprivcic on the bench for Auckland

1 min

Auckland playing away from clubhouse and early shot by Kelly straight at goalie

4 mins

Freekick to Manawatu 10 metres out of area. Hayne's kick easily cleared.

6 mins

Right wing corner to Auckland. Wasted too far with wind.

8 mins

Hayne dribbles into penalty area but nobody manages a shot.

10 mins

GOAL! Clearnce goes wrong and own goal puts Auckland one up.

13 mins

Higham through but Spoonley manages to wrong foot his chase.

15 mins

Manawatu defence skittery at best.

17 mins

Freekick to Auckland on edge of area. Morgan hard and low but well saved.

18 mins

Corner spills to Corrales and he shoots inches over the top.

19 mins

Cross from right by Kelly, Morgan should have done better but shoots wide.

21 mins

Dickinson clear in front of goal but shot blocked by goalie.

23 mins

GOAL! Right wing corner by Morgan, headed in by unmarked Berlanga.

25 mins

Hayne cross but White hesitates and chance is lost.

34 mins

Yellow card Cooksley.

37 mins

First corner to Manawatu, Spoonley saves at second attempt

40 mins

GOAL! Shot from outside the area from Daniel Morgan beats Borren for 3-0

45 mins

No time added as Halftime whistle blows.

We're off again with no changes as yet

46 mins

Early corner for Auckland, not cleared. Taken again fromright Vicelich puts the ball in the net but half a mile offside.

48 mins

Manawatu make rare attack and Chettleburgh is thwarted by Thomas.

54 mins

Auckland fail to clear corner and Cooksley just over top with snap shot.

59 mins

Auckland sub Corrales off Milne on to make debut.

61 mins

GOAL! Michael White makes solo run and his shot takes a deflection off Berlanga with Spoonley motionless.

63 mins

McGeorge header well saved by Borren

66 mins

Morgan wastes chance with weak left foot shot

70 mins

Yellow for Pritchett, mistimed tackle.

72 mins

Sub Auckland Pritchett off Koprivcic on

75 mins

Great block by Borren as McGeorge gets one on one.

77 mins

Manawatu subs, Chettleburgh off Fraser on, Hodge off Steele on

80 mins

Morgan in good position but shoots weakly

87 mins

Auckland keep pressing but lack finish.

88 mins

Dickinson through but another good save by Borren

90 mins

Sub Kelly on for Omi. Three minutes to be added.

90 plus two

Morgan crosses but nobody home

90 plus three

Fulltime whistle as another Auckland shot sails wide.