Football: City thump Suva in title defence opener

Suva's Ruisate Matarerega and Auckland's Angel Berlanga contest for the ball. Photo / Shane Wenzlick

Auckland City made a winning start to their OFC Champions League title defence, completing a comfortable win over Suva at ANZ Stadium in Fiji yesterday.

The reigning champions have enjoyed a season littered with success, claiming both the minor premiership and winning the grand final in the ASB Premiership, following their fairytale run to third place at the Club World Cup in Morocco.

Auckland will need to win this month's Champions League to ensure a return trip next season but coach Ramon Tribulietx showed no signs of any pressure, opting to start the tournament opener with talismanic leader Ivan Vicelich, new All Whites cap Ryan De Vries and midfield regular Sam Burfoot all on the bench.

Despite missing the talented and experienced trio, City opened the scoring in the 11th minute, handed an early opportunity from the spot after striker Oscar Garcia was brought down by Emori Ragata.

It appeared a straight-forward penalty decision and was converted by teenage striker David Browne.

The ASB Premiership champions had to survive a couple of scares after taking the lead. Goalkeeper Tamati Williams, having already taken a knock to the head when pulling off a brave save at the feet of Nickel Chand in the first half, pulled off a superb double save from Ruisate Matarerega just after the restart.

But any anxiety Auckland may have harboured was allayed when substitute Burfoot beat Ragata at his near post with a left-foot finish 19 minutes into the second half.

Suva kept the pressure on the visitors and there was a controversial moment shortly after Burfoot's goal, when Williams looked to have handled the ball outside his penalty area following a wayward header by stand-in skipper Angel Berlanga. But referee Norbert Hauata waved away the protests, raising the ire of the 5500-strong partisan crowd.

With Suva desperately trying to find a way back into the match, Tribulietx threw on Adam McGeorge for Garcia and the former All Whites midfielder, now in his third spell with the club, completed a satisfying evening in Fiji by beating Ragata to make it 3-0.

Also played yesterday, last year's semifinalists AS Pirae were held to an unlikely 3-3 with Samoan champions Lupe Ole Soaga.

Team Wellington begin their campaign today, taking on Tahitian side Tefana in Suva, while Auckland City face Western United of Solomon Islands on Tuesday.