Waikato FC

Auckland City

1

3

Steven Holloway 76 (pen)

Paul Urlovich 23
Milos Nikolic 68, 69

by Matt Richens at Centennial Park
nzfc.co.nz

Both Auckland City and Waikato FC leave Ngaruawahia's Centennial Park somewhat happy, but with work to do after Auckland won 3-1.

Two goals in two minutes in the middle of the second spell to the Aucklanders wrecked the game as a contest, but Waikato had caused them more problems than many anticipated.

Paul Urlovic put the visitors ahead when he snuck a low shot past Waikato's Jason Mann in the 23rd minute.

Auckland City was stronger, of that there was little doubt, but they also looked like a team who had been together for a while. Unlike Waikato.

Waikato coach Dave Edmondson said his side had targeted three points from this game, but mistakes and switching off cost them. 

Auckland had the most of the chances and did most of the creating.

They weren't as strong as they could have been in midfield thanks to a solid effort in the engine room by the home side, but coach Colin Tuaa was happy enough with how the game panned out.

"We're pretty pleased. The first 20 minutes I thought we dominated the game and created a few chances. The only thing was we should have been two or three ahead by half time but we weren't," he said.

"Waikato came out hard against us like all teams do, but I think we fought well and showed our class."

 Auckland's touch and final pass was better which led to more chances on goal. Keryn Jordan and substitue Milos Nikolic were strong up front for the Aucklanders, and when Waikato's defense did lapse, Nikolic pounced twice quickly to score two good striker goals.

Auckland's persistence and a drop in concentration by Waikato took the score from 1-0 in the 68th minute, to 3-0 in the 69th.

There was enough for Waikato to be encouraged with and Auckland, who Tuaa said had improved markedly since last week and have already grabbed six points, lead the league for now. The only goal they have conceded was a freak penalty today. A ball was blasted into the box where an Auckland player was still on the ground and referee Peter O'Leary correctly gave Waikato a penalty for handball. Steven Holloway knocked it is with less than quarter of an hour to go, but Auckland shut it out from there.

Edmondson said he was obviously disappointed to have lost, mainly because he thought his side had dominated large chunks of the encounter.

He said he was also disappointed because if it hadn't been for the lapse of concentration, his side could have grabbed at least a point.

"We got caught out, we were dominating parts of the game and we were going forward and we lost a bit of shape. And one player out of position against a team like this with players like Keryn Jordon and the boy (Milos) Nikolic who came on you'll get punished."

Next week Waikato travel to Christchurch still in search of their first points, while Auckland City have the weekend off to prepare for their crunch derby against Waitakere United the following Wednesday.

Photos: Grant Stantial/Geoff Dickinson

Waikato FC

V

Auckland City

1. Jason Mann

1. Ross Nicholson

2. Joel Mathews

2. Nelson Sale Lilifa

4. Graham Pearce (c)

3. Matt Friel

7. Joe Simpkins (off 89)

5. Matt Williams (off 78)

10. Stu Hogg  (off 70)

6. Ki-Hyung Lee

11. Steven Holloway

8. Chad Coombes

13. Shaun van Rooyen

9. Paul Urlovic  (off 59)

14. Craig Wylie

11. Alick Maemae (off 66)

18. Nik Keown-Robson

14. Keryn Jordon

24. Michael Mayne (off 50mins)

15. Ivan Vicelich (c)

25. Nathan Strom

21. Rikki van Steeden

Substitutes

Substitutes

3. Ben Hunt (on 50)

7. James Pritchett (on 66)

8. Paul Stewart (on 89)

12. Jacob Spoonley

9. Marco Rojas (on 70)

4. Alex Feneridis (on 78)

16. Sam Margetts

20. Greg Ulhmann

21. Jonathan Stables

24. Milos Nikolic (on 59)

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

20 min to kickoff

It’s a great day at Ngaruawahia’s Centennial Park. Little wind, 21 degrees and the pitch looks a picture. This is Waikato’s first real taste of NZFC in a country setting.
For those of you who don’t know, Ngaruawahia is 19km north of Hamilton and for Waikato FC’s seven home games this season, it will be their home.
A lot of locals have done a lot of work, free of charge, to make sure this game and the season happened for Waikato, now it’s time for the players to do their bit.
Grant Young is out Auckland City – injured.

0 mins

New Zealand's best referee Peter O'Leary gets the game underway. Waikato FC are playing north to south and funnily enough, Auckland City are going the other way. By the way, the crowd has already beaten what we got used to last year at Waikato Stadium. Waikato in black, Auckland in white, not that you can see that I guess.

3mins

Feeling each other out, Auckland pushed a couple of long balls in for two offsides. Both sides looks set up in 4-4-2 variations.

7mins

Waikato monopolising possession, but no shots either way. The home side standing up to the big boys, and captain Pearce gets some sort of warning for team back chat - possibly

10mins

first shot, Keryn Jordan one on one with Jason Mann, Mann goes the right way low and puts the ball out for corner, feably cleared but Auck shoot wide

12mins

Waikato giving too much ball away, but Auckland not dominating as Colin Tuaa would like.

14mins

Ki-Hyung Lee lazy tackle on Keown-Robson - yellow card but free kick cleared easily

16mins

Cross from Michael Mayne for Waikato and Hogg has free header, aims for bottom corner but goes just wide

22mins

Yellow card to Stu Hogg fro Waikato

23mins

GOAL! - 1-0 Auckland City - Urlovich slots nicely past the keeper for an Auck lead. The loud blowie things Waikato have given out are now quiet - thank goodness

29mins

could have been 2-0, Alick Maemae beats Mann from the corner of the box, but hits far post and bounces back, between Mann and goal and to a Waikato player. The home side need more composure on the ball, and more ball.

33mins

Waikato have a shout for a penalty, admittedly mainly the crowd were shouting. No pen, good call Mr O'Leary and co

36mins

Great flick from Holloway to Hogg, poor first touch and shot is from too wide and doesn't trouble Nicholson. Auck look like a side who have played together for years, Waikato are lacking too many touches and final passes to be threatened with the same claim

39mins

Same combination, but Hogg's run a touch too early and gets flagged, Nicholson flicked shot over anyway. Man he's a big unit - compared to Waikato who have just one player over six feet tall.

42mins

Vicelich gets up to meet a corner, miles above anyone else, but it's a grazing header which goes wide. Should have done better

45+1mins

1-0 halftime. Waikato will be disappointed to have gone behind. They made a lot of the early play, but lost the ball far too often. Auckland too have been far from their best.

46mins

second spell underway and immediately Holloway has a shot pushed wide by Nicholson for a corner - Waikato's first

47mins

Wylie delivers the corner - straight to Nicholson. Surely they know they aren't going to get many chances so need to make the most of them.

50mins

SUB - Mayne for Ben Hunt - and Auckland waste a corner

52mins

Stoke City giant throw-in from Strom - chance for Waikato but saved. Immediately Auckland have two long range chances, neither hit well, both saved easily by Mann

59mins

Mann makes two sprawling saves, the second from Ngaruawahia's own Matt Williams. Urlovich, the goal scorer, off for MIlos Nikolic

60mins

Two straight corners for Auck, first out for second, second pushed wide by Williams again. Waikato need to bring on one of their young striker substitutes, Rojas needs to come on soon!

62mins

Waikato's second croner, six in the box, but straight to Nicholson again. Didn't work last time, not sure why they thought it would this time.

65mins

Maemae shoots from 35 - insert duck shooting joke here - and he misses his target by a long way. And get substituted for Pritchett immediately

66mins

SUB Pritchett on for Maemae and corner for Waikato - even monmey says it's going to Nicholson

67mins

Turned into two corners, neither reached Nicholson, neither looked dangerous

68mins

GOAL! 2-0 Auck - substitute Milos Nkolic jumps on a loose ball in the box after Mann made a handy save. Balls knocked under Mann for second Auck goal. BRING ON ROJAS 

69mins

GOAL!! 3-0 20 second later, Nikoloc scores again, great cross, tide volley from close range. Game over.

70mins

Rojas for Hogg - bolting horse comes to mind

75mins

PEN - Auck player on the ground when ball blasted in, handled it. Holloway in...

76mins

GOAL 3-1 Holloway goes right, Nicholson doesn't. enough time...? maybe

76mins

SUB Williams off for Feneridis - and Auck have about five quick chances in scramble. Mann having a great game in goal, pity his defenders aren't

85mins

first dull patch of the second half Waikato pushing forward, but getting nowhere

86mins

Big throw-in for Waikato again, can they ise it... no

89mins

Auck having most of the possession and Waikato looking SUB Simpkins off for Stewart. And another great save by Mann

90+2mins

Full time, 3-1 to a slicker Auckland City side. Better finishing and batter last touches were the differences. Stay tuned for full report and coaches' comments.