2014 FIFA Club World Cup third place finishers Auckland City FC maintained top spot in the ASB Premiership with a 3-0 victory over Team Wellington at Kiwitea Street in Auckland.
After losing the Charity Cup, and then going down 4-0 to Matt Calcott’s capital men, Auckland City were keen to reassert their domestic dominance.
It wasn’t looking good early on as the hosts conceded a sixth minute penalty, only for taker Cole Peverley to hook it wide of the upright.
Calcott’s men were left rueing that miss when John Irving made no mistakes from the spot just two minutes later to give the 2014 OFC Champions League winners a 1-0 lead. Newcomer Ivan Carril then doubled the home side’s lead direct from a free kick, with Team Wellington keeper Michael O’Keeffe powerless to stop the strike.
Auckland City’s third came via another newbie, Oscar Garcia, who glided through the Wellington defence before putting his first goal away for Auckland City in second half stoppage time.
“It was a bit of a funny start, they missed the penalty so had they scored it could have been different,” Auckland City coach Ramon Tribulietx says.
“But I think overall we played a very focussed game and a very intense game. The players were really into it and we created a lot of chances and had more possession.”
Recent additions to the squad; Carril and Garcia, played scoring roles in getting the team across the line and Tribulietx says he was pleased with the contribution of the pair who are adjusting well to life at Auckland City so far.
“They’ve only been training with us for a few days so it was a good opportunity to give them a game against Team Wellington – one of our rivals – in probably the biggest game so far in the competition. It was good to see how they could manage to play the style of football that is played here in New Zealand.”
Meanwhile for Calcott, those early missed opportunities proved key in the outcome and he says the team lacked their usual precision in possession.
“It could have been slightly different. We’ve missed a penalty and the early chances and from there we’ve gone up the other end and given away a penalty and given away a free-kick – which was very well hit from their new Spanish player – and we were on the backfoot from there,” he rues.
“I thought we didn’t create enough in open play and gave away possession too cheaply and that was a real shame because in weeks gone by some of our play has been pretty good.”
Over in Vanuatu it was an equally entertaining clash of the table toppers, as 2014 OFC Champions League runners up Amicale FC took on the reigning domestic champions Tafea FC in the first semi-final of the Port Vila Shield.
More than 4000 fans filled up Port Vila Stadium to watch the two local heavyweights battle it out for a place in the final, with the Red Roosters finishing triumphant with a 2-0 victory over their counterparts.
Fijian striker Osea Vaketalesau found the back of the net in style after latching on to a pass from Chanel Obed 30 minutes into the encounter.
The second goal came just ahead of the break as new signing Miguel Angel Magnoni of Argentina hit the ball past Tafea goalkeeper Seloni Iaruel from a tight angle.
The heated nature of the encounter was evident from the two red cards brandished by referee Nawen Hopkins as Amicale captain Rijat Shala and Tafea veteran Freddy Vava were both given their 2015 marching orders.
The win sees Amicale move to the final of the Port Vila Shield where they face Erakor Golden Star who beat Ifira Black Bird 1-0 to earn their spot.
The Port Vila Shield is an annual tournament that precedes the TVL Premier League which gets underway this month in Port Vila.
All four teams, Amicale, Tafea, Auckland City FC and Team Wellington, will feature in the 2015 OFC Champions League which is set to take place in Ba and Suva in Fiji during April.