Waitakere United

Otago United

5

0

Roy Krishna 9', 34', 74'
Own goal 12' (Lockhart)
Ryan De Vries 80'

by Bob Pearce at Fred Taylor Park
asbpremiership.co.nz

Waitakere’s lightning fast striker Roy Krishna scored a hat-trick as the West Aucklanders closed to within two points of Auckland City with a 5-0 defeat of Otago United at Fred Taylor Park.

If there’s a faster player over 10m than Krishna in the ASB Premiership he must have a rocket on his back and that speed plus some naivety in the visitors’ defending gave the Fijian a field day.

He was on the scoresheet after just nine minutes when the defence hesitated in front of goal and he nipped in to score a soft goal. His second in the 34th minute followed a hopeful long ball that fell into a hole and allowed Krishna to lob the advancing goalkeeper Peter Evans.

Krishna saved the best for last. In the 74th minute he fielded a ball which spun loose from a melee on the edge of the area, turned expertly and shot through the crowded defence giving the goalkeeper no chance. He reckons this was his fourth national league hat-trick but he’s determined it won’t be his last.

“Last season was disappointing because I finished up injured and missed the last few games. This time I’m fit but I still need to work on my shooting and that’s what I’ll be doing this week.” A warning to Auckland City who meet Waitakere next Saturday.

Otago were 3-0 down at halftime with an own goal, when an attempted interception of a cross ended up lobbing over the goalkeeper into the net.

There were plenty of chances going begging in the second spell and Otago again contributed to their fate in the 80th minute when Ryan de Vries nipped in to intercept an attempted headed backpass, rounded the goalkeeper and found the empty net.

It was a well-deserved reward for de Vries, who has been away on holiday in South Africa, but came back to become a dominant figure for the winners. He was always balanced on the ball and set up a stream of chances for his team-mates, most of which they spurned.

Waitakere coach had some stern words for his team after their loss to Hawkes Bay last week and they had some effect.

“I wanted a clean sheet and some goals,” he said. “This tells people not to write us off. Even so, we still missed a few good opportunities and we’ll be working on that. It’s a good confidence builder for the crunch time of the season.”

Otago coach Richard Murray was a realist rather than a pessimist.

“We played quite well but we got punished for little things and those little things add up. We don’t have the experience of someone who calls the game out there.

“We’ve lost three key players and we’ve only got six players with previous national league experience. We’ve also conceded more than our share of scummy goals. The mistakes we’ve made are things you might get away with at a lower level but not here.

“Waitakere have experienced players as their core and that Roy Krishna. He’s in a different world.

Waitakere United

V

Otago United

1 Danny Robinson (GK)

22 Peter Evans (GK)

4 Tim Myers (Vale, 76')

2 Liam Lockhart

7 Martin Bullock

3 Tristan Prattley

8 Chris Bale

6 Morgan Day

10 Allan Pearce (Holloway, 63')

7 Regan Coldicott (Ryder, 72')

11 Ross McKenzie

10 Ant Hancock (Rathbone, 82')

12 Roy Krishna

14 Sam Mepham

14 Andy Bevin (Turner, 63')

18 Harley Rodeka

17 Jake Butler

21 Jose Cantillo

20 Ryan De Vries

23 Joel Stevens

27 Ross Haviland

25 Craig Ferguson (Fitzpatrick, 81')

Substitutes

Substitutes

15 Gegame Feni

4 Jude Fitzpatrick (On, 82')

18 Steven Holloway (On, 63') 

8 Seamus Ryder (On, 72')

22 Matt Upton (RGK)

19 Zac Rathbone

29 Jordan Vale (On, 76')

20 Matt Brook (On, 82')

30 Rory Turner (On, 63')

1 Os Rodriguez (RGK)

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

0 mins

Auckland's so-called summer delivers again. Grey skies cool breeze and now some light rain! OK for the players not great for the spectators.

0 more mins

Ryan de Vries back for Waitakere, young Ross Haviland gets a start. Jason Rowley and Aaron Scott still injured. Otago start new signing Jose Cantillo 

Otago playing from the Kumeu end into the breeze.

We're off with Otago pressing but only a goalkick

2 mins

Krishna chips ball for Pearce, cleared fo corner. First corner cleared behind for a corner the other side. Headed over bar by Bale

5 mins

De Vries makes space on the left but cross sails harmlessly behind.

7 mins

Tough challenge leaves Cantillo on back Welcome to NZ.

8 mins

Cantillo delivers useful ball into area with side of foot but Robinson intercepts.

9 mins

 GOAL! Krishna takes advantage of some hesitant defending to slot ball into net

12 mins

 OWN GOAL! Lockhart tries to intercept cross but skies ball over goalie into net

16 mins

Otago are already warming up their bench. It may just be the Auckland cold!

20 mins

Great double save by Evans, first at  the feet of Krishna then divng to stop a fierce volley by Pearce.

22 mins

Butler and Krishna combine for Krishna to shoot, Evans gets a touch on to post and out.

27 mins

Run by Coldicott earns Otago's first corner, Rodeka and Lockhart bot have chances but the ball spills clear.

29 mins

Spell of Otago pressure but the final touch eludes them 

34 mins

 Hopeful ball forward falls into empty space for Krishna to collect and lob over advancing keeper.

38 mins

Freekick to Waitakere, dangerous ball well cleared by defence.

41 mins

Rodeka makes penetrating run on right but finally swamped by defence.

42 mins

 Pearce one on one with goalie but blocked, corner cleared.

45 mins

One minute to be added.

45 plus one

Halftime 3-0 to Waitakere, probaly a fair reflection of the possession 

No changes at the break, Otago now have breeze at their backs. 

2 mins

Otago attack on left but ball behind for goalkick

3 mins

McKenzie feeds Krishna but his shot is more of a trckle.

5 mins

Hancock in clear but ball bobbles away fro

8 mins

Yellow card Pearce, studs up in tackle

10 mins

De Vries through to edge of area, tackled by Lockhart, ball spills to Bevin who shoots ove thetop.

15 mins

De Vries works hard to set up Bevin but he shoots wide.

16 mins

Another chac for Bevin but he delays too long and the chance is gone.

17 mins

Holloway for Pearce, Turner for Bevin.

19 mins  

De Vries shoots just wide

20 mins

Collision betwee Cantillo and De Vries, De Vries needs treatment but returns

24 mins

Holloway gets ball in net with curling shot but ball had gone out.

26 mins

Ryder on for Coldicott

29 mins

GOAL! Brilliant turn by Krishna in crowded penalty area to give goaie no chance.

32 mins

Vale on for Myers.

35 mins

 GOAL! Rodeka tries to head ball back to goalie but de Vries intercepts for easy tap-in.

43 mins

Butler blazes over bar. Waitakere are totally dominant. Evans has had to advance outside area to kill two trough balls.

44 mins

Four minutes to be added

48 mins

Snap shot by Stevens flies just wide with goalie beaten.

49 mins

Final whistle. Waitakere close to two points of Aucklan City. Krishna hat-trick puts him top of Golden Boot with seven.