Waitakere United emerged victorious in the Battle of the Super City by posting a 3-1 away win over Auckland City at Kiwitea Street. Waitakere remain top with maximum points from three games and gained a psychological edge ahead of next week’s repeat showdown with Auckland in the next round of the O-League.
Elsewhere, 1-0 away victories over Otago United and YoungHeart Manawatu helped lift Waikato FC and Hawke’s Bay United into fourth and fifth place in the playoff race respectively. Otago and Manawatu share eighth place.
But the day belonged to Kamo as he became the first ever Canterbury United player to score a hat-trick in the ASB Premiership. Kamo’s treble also gave Canterbury its first ever away win over Team Wellington after six years of trying.
Kamo scored just three minutes into the game when he finished off an Andy Pitman pass and substitute Gagame Feni supplied Kamo with a second goal 14 minutes later in an explosive opening 20-minute spell.
Team Wellington’s John Sutherland halved the deficit with a goal on 31 minutes but Joe Murray restored Canterbury’s two-goal cushion when he headed home a cross by World Cup All White Aaron Clapham on 71 minutes.
The rout was completed as Kamo grabbed his third and Canterbury’s fourth with a close-range finish two minutes later. Emiliano Tade earned a late consolation for Team Wellington on 88 minutes to leave Stu Jacobs team hovering above Otago and Manawatu in sixth place.
Auckland looked on course for a derby win over Waitakere when Phil Edginton headed home a David Mulligan corner after just 90 seconds to give the hosts an early 1-0 lead.
But an equaliser by Allan Pearce and a double from Ryan de Vries helped set up a 3-1 win as Waitakere grabbed just their sixth ever derby win over Auckland. The 3-1 victory sets up a mouth-watering rematch between the two clubs when they meet in the O-League this weekend.
Hawke’s Bay snatched three precious away points from Manawatu thanks to a last-minute goal by player-coach Chris McIvor.
But the visitors win could prove costly with Hawke’s Bay’s All White midfielder Cole Peverley sent off following a second yellow card, earned for a tackle on Jason Hayne.
With eight minutes left, Manawatu player Michael White joined Peverley on the sidelines after a strong challenge on Jonathan Taylor, as referee Mirko Benischke handed out nine yellow and two red cards during a torrid encounter at Memorial Park.
Jason Hicks first ever ASB Premiership goal after just seven minutes earned Waikato a 1-0 win over Otago in Dunedin. Otago had the ball in the net on 57 minutes but referee Darren Sundborn disallowed the effort for offside. Waikato goalkeeper John Fletcher produced a string of saves to deny Otago’s late charge for an equaliser.
In the ASB Youth League, Waikato and Auckland shared the honours in a six-goal thriller in Tauranga on Saturday. A Sam Margetts double and a strike by Eugene Heerschap for Waikato were matched by goals from City’s Nikko Boxall, Stephen Carmichael and Thomas Doyle. Waitakere defeated Hawke’s Bay 5-0, inspired by a Tim Payne hat-trick. In the Southern Conference, Otago edged Manawatu 2-1 while Wellington took care of Canterbury 3-1.
The next round of ASB Premiership action features two matches, Canterbury entertaining Manawatu and Hawke’s Bay hosting Otago. Waitakere and Auckland meet in the O-League at Fred Taylor Park.
All matches will be played on Sunday.
Story and image courtesy of New Zealand Football.
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