Auckland City in ominous form
Auckland City have shown why they remain the benchmark team in the Stirling Sports Premiership.
Last season’s runners-up produced an emphatic performance to dispatch defending champions Team Wellington 4-0 at Kiwitea Street yesterday.
Auckland suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Waitakere United last weekend, but were quickly into their stride in this match.
Their passing, both short and long, was sharp as they prised open two good chances in the opening 20 minutes.
They finally scored in the 32nd minute through Emiliano Tade.
The sequence of play went goal kick, flick-on, through ball and cross, with Ryan de Vries using the outside of his boot to cross to an unmarked Tade at the back post, who was able to tap home.
It was as much as Auckland deserved for their enterprising play.
They again showed their class with a piece of individual brilliance from Joao Moreira on the stroke of halftime. The striker flicked the ball up to himself on the edge of the box with his heel, before slamming home a volleyed finish to give his side a two-goal buffer.
Team Wellington weren’t terrible in the first spell, creating a few half chances, but they looked a step off Auckland throughout.
They did look better to start the second half, but Auckland extended their lead as Moreira turned provided 15 minutes in.
His sumptuous ball over the top put de Vries one-on-one with Team Wellington goalkeeper Scott Basalaj and he made no mistake with the leftfoot finish.
Things only got worse for Team Wellington when Andy Bevin brought down de Vries in the box with 15 minutes to play.
Moreira duly stepped up to nab his second, sending Basalaj the wrong way from the penalty spot.
It was not the result, or the performance, new Team Wellington coach Jose Figueira would have wanted from his side.
The back three of Guillermo Moretti, Bill Robertson and Justin Gulley were easily caught out by Auckland’s attacks, while the attackers lacked any real cohesion.
It was a welcome return to form for Roman Tribulietx’s side, who have firmly put behind them that first-up loss.
Meanwhile, the Wellington Phoenix reserves lost 2-1 to Eastern Suburbs on Saturday at David Farrington Park.
Fifteen-year-old Willem Ebbinge put the Phoenix up 1-0 after a tidy finish from a good series of passes in the 52nd minute, but Sam Burfoot and Tim Payne hit back within eight minutes to earn their side the win.
In other results, Hamilton Wanderers beat Southern United 1-0, while Canterbury United and Tasman United fought out a 2-2 draw.
Hawke’s Bay United play Waitakere United on Monday.