Soccer: Auckland City beat New Caledonia

File Photo / APN

Auckland City have opened their 2011 O-League soccer account with a comfortable 3-0 win over New Caledonia champions AS Magenta at Auckland today.

But it was a far-from-flawless performance and co-coaches Aaron McFarland and Ramon Tribulietx have plenty to work on before City's next group B encounter against local rivals Waitakere United on November 14.

First-half goals to Adam McGeorge, All White David Mulligan and striker Daniel Koprivcic were enough to dispose of Magenta, whose attack lacked sparkle today.

"We're delighted with the three points because we recalled that last year we battled to a 2-1 win here," McFarland said.

"To go 3-0 up was a good effort but we are ultimately a little disappointed not to have gone on from there."

Mulligan, who scored twice in the 3-2 national league away win over Waikato FC last weekend, missed a great chance in the eighth minute when he volleyed against the bar with the goal at his mercy.

But City were not left to rue that gaffe.

Ten minutes later, skilful youngster Adam Thomas struck the bar again from a Koprivcic header across goal but this time McGeorge was on hand to pounce on the rebound and head into an empty net.

Mulligan atoned for his earlier miss in the 29th minute when his whipped freekick from wide on the right beat Magenta goalkeeper Michel Hne.

The game was all but over just a few minutes later when the Magenta defence again struggled to deal with a Mulligan set-piece delivery and Koprivcic headed the bouncing ball home from close range.

New Zealand's other O-League representatives Waitakere face Tahiti's AS Tefana at Auckland's Fred Taylor Park tomorrow.

- NZPA