The win capped off the perfect start to the season for YoungHeart Manawatu coach Bob Sova, whose team moved into second place.
Elsewhere, reigning champions Auckland City remained in top spot despite a 0-0 draw at Otago United while Waitakere United moved into third thanks to a 1-0 win at home to Canterbury United. Waikato FC – thrashed 5-0 by Auckland City last week – enjoyed their first win of the season with a 4-2 win over Matt Chandler’s Hawke’s Bay United.
Soromon began the YoungHeart Manawatu rout with a 25th minute close range tap in while Team Wellington nearly drew level in the 39th minute only for Greg Draper’s effort to hit the post. Seule Soromon put the match beyond the hosts when he scored two quickfire strikes in the 54th and 55th minutes to give the visitors a commanding 3-0 lead.
YoungHeart Manawatu confirmed victory in the 73rd minute after another coolly taken finish by Soromon. Soromon could have grabbed his and YoungHeart’s fifth goal after he rounded goalkeeper Jim Bannatyne only to see his effort cleared off the line by Team Wellington’s Chris Davies with eight minutes remaining.
Otago United’s draw with Auckland City ended a run of seven consecutive defeats against the champions that stretches back to season 2006-07. Otago has only beaten Auckland City once in their last ten attempts. Despite a draw City maintained it’s unbeaten start to the season and has yet to concede a goal in it’s three competitive matches in all competitions to date while Otago sit in 5th place in the table.
Former New Zealand international striker Brent Fisher repaid the faith of coach Neil Emblen with a debut headed goal from a Neil Sykes’ freekick after 31 minutes to hand Waitakere United an opening day NZFC victory. The 1-0 victory ensured Waitakere sit among the early leaders in the race for an NZFC play-off spot and guarantees that competition for places in United’s frontline remains intense with Fijian striker Roy Krishna only used as a late substitute.
Meanwhile, Centennial Park, Ngaurawahia was the scene of a six-goal thriller as Waikato FC defeated Hawke’s Bay United for the first time in three seasons.
Goals by Waikato FC strikers Dan Peat and Michael Gwyther helped kick-start their club’s campaign with a 4-2 win at home over the visitors.
A first half brace by Dan Peat in the 19th and 27th minutes complemented a 23rd minute close range header by Michael Gwyther.
Leon Birnie threw Hawke’s Bay a lifeline with a goal on the stroke of halftime but Waikato FC restored their two goal buffer in the 71st minute through a Joey Simpkins penalty after Mikael Munday was brought down in the box.
A 76th minute Andrew Abba volley set up a tense finish but it wasn’t enough to deny a first ever NZFC win for new player/coach Che Bunce.
Story and photo courtesy NZF Media
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