AUCKLAND CITY TOO STRONG FOR MANU URA

Over 11,000 fans poured through the gates across the Oceania region to witness eight goals on Match Day 1 of the 2008 O-League
competition in Auckland and Honiara.

 Oceania Football Confederation’s (OFC) flagship club event proved a popular event last season but New Zealand
Football Championship (NZFC) title-holders Auckland City were the big winners romping to a comfortable 6-0 victory over Tahitian champions AS Manu’ura. 

South African marksmen Grant Young and Keryn Jordan were too hot to handle for AS Manu Ura as the Tahitian’s struggled to cope with
Auckland City FC’s pace and experience.

 Keryn Jordan got the scoring underway as early as the 6^th minute after putting away a close range effort
after Daniel Tapeta failed to hold Jordan’s initial shot. 

AS Manu Ura’s task was made more difficult when goalkeeper Daniel Tapeta was sent off for dragging down Auckland City FC midfielder Jeff
Campbell with the goal in Campbell’s sights.  

Keryn Jordan made no mistake from the penalty spot after 34 minutes. Grant Young made it 3-0 after
latching onto a Bryan Little through-ball and leaving substitute goalkeeper Jonathan Torohia with no chance.  

Chad Coombes (52’), Jeff Campbell (68’) and Paul Urlovic (70’) rounded off the scoring for Auckland City FC as the NZFC champions
cruised to victory. Auckland City FC coach Colin Tuaa was understandably delighted. 

“I’m very happy with the result. You only need to see what happened last year (when Auckland City FC were eliminated on goal difference)
to understand why the goals we scored today were important.  

We were a bit nervous before the game because this was our first match of the season and AS Manu’ura had played three matches and are
top of their competition.  So we’re obviously very happy with the way things went,” Tuaa said.

LIVE UPDATES:

1’ – the match is underway in ideal conditions, at McLeod Road for the first time

3’ – Auckland City are holding possession in Manu Ura’s defensive half

4’ – Manu Ura win the ball at half way, and force a goal kick in their first foray into Auckland City’s territory

4’ – Grant Young is clear down the right and bearing down on goal, but Daniel Tapeta saves well across his body to keep the scores
level

5’ – Jeff Campbell heads clear a dangerous free kick from the right side

6’ – GOAL!

14. Keryn Jordan pushes the ball home with his second attempt after Chad Coombes’ pressure on the Manu Ura defence produces a loose ball in
the penalty area

10’ – Auckland City regain possession immediately after the restart

11’ – Ki Hyung-Lee has his first shot in an Auckland City shirt, though failing to trouble Tapeta

13’ – Manu Ura enjoy a spell of possession down Auckland City’s left side, but fail to register a shot on target

15’ – a searching James Pritchett long-ball from right back turns the Manu Ura defence, but Tapeta is out well to prevent Young from another
shooting opportunity

17’ – Coombes controls a long clearance brilliantly to turn in the box, but Tapeta produces a low reflex save to
smother

19’ – Ben Sigmund is solid at the back for Auckland City, clearing any danger caused from rare Manu Ura attacks

19’ – 4. Jean Ly WAUT is carded for a clumsy challenge in the centre of midfield

20’ – 17. Bryan LITTLE also receives a yellow card 

22’ – Young fires a pinpoint cross from wide on the right to find Little at the far post, bu his header narrowly misses the top
corner

24’ – 20 has space down the right to cross from the bye-line, but 11’s loose touch runs for a goal kick

26’ – Young and Pritchett combines well to cross for Jordan, whose glancing header bounces wide of the left hand
upright

30’ – PENALTY!

Young finds Jordan with a delicate chip, who flicks with the faintest touch for Campbell to touch past Tapeta, only for the Manu Ura ‘keeper
to bring him down and concede a penalty

31’ – RED CARD!

16. Daniel TAPETA is sent from the field after staying down for an extended period of time following the foul

34’ – 11. makes way for the replacement goalkeeper, 1. Jonothan TOROHIA

34’ – GOAL!