Team Wellington clinical in disposing of Southern United

IT was always going to be a tough assignment for Southern United yesterday. A tough trip to Team Wellington was on the menu for the side — the team from the capital is always hard to knock over at home.

So it played out, with Team Wellington winning 31 after the score was locked up 11 at halftime.

Southern United had notched its first win of the season last week, beating Hamilton Wanderers 10 in Hamilton.

But Wellington was too clinical yesterday, as Southern United find it tough to get anything going.

It was not helped by losing defender Markud Fjortoft to a second yellow card with 15 minutes go in the game.

He picked up his second yellow card for a late challenge which left the match official with little option but to send him packing.

Wellington scored the first goal

National league

The scores through Mario Ilich, the midfielder sending in a long shot which deceived everyone and landed in the goal.

It was a sign of the way the game was going.

Southern United came back into the game, getting the goal to get back on level terms after 38 minutes.

The ball came in from a long throw and Team Wellington was too hesitant. That led to Abdulla AlKahalisi jumping in and putting the ball into the net.

It was a well taken goal and it looked as if Team Wellington would not have things all its own way.

But after halftime the home side swung on to attack and kept pressing, although Liam Little was sound in goal for Southern United.

Eventually, however, the goahead goal would come and it came through JackHenry Sinclair. On the hour mark, he was on the end of a cross which arrived at the far post and pushed the ball into the net.

It was disappointing for Southern United and it got worse when Nati Hailemariam scored a third to seal the game for Team Wellington with 20 minutes left.

Former All White Aaron Clapham came on for Team Wellington, having previously withdrawn from the league a year ago.

Southern United coach Paul O’Reilly threw on some substitutes but it was a bridge too far for the visiting side.

The team returned to Dunedin last night and faces another trip away next week, heading to Auckland to take on Waitakere.