Biggest derby victory for Auckland

Auckland City FC took a giant stride towards hosting the ASB Premiership grand final this season after taking down reigning champions Waitakere United 4-0 at Fred Taylor Park on Saturday.

The first-leg semifinal result was the biggest victory recorded by Auckland City in the 45-match history of the Super City derby.

Emiliano Tade broke the deadlock in the 27th minute of the game and doubled City’s advantage just minutes before halftime.

Waitakere impressed in the second spell, with Allan Pearce bringing the best out of City keeper Tamati Williams after the hour mark.

Ryan de Vries, Adam Dickinson and Tade were all close to netting a third goal for City inside the next 20 minutes.

Tade was denied a hattrick by the post, but City celebrated seconds later with a close-range strike from Ivan Vicelich.

In stoppage time Takuya Iwata struck a crushing fourth goal for the Navy Blues.

The teams will go head to head again in the second leg of the semifinal at Kiwitea Street on Sunday.

The clubs’ ASB Youth League teams also played and City maintained their unbeaten record with a 2-1 win over Waitakere.