Ivan Vicelich. Photo / Greg Bowker
Auckland City claimed the summer's first football silverware today by winning the inaugural ASB Charity Cup with 3-2 victory over Waitakere United in Whenuapai.
Auckland raced to a 2-0 halftime lead in the first edition of a new prequel to the ASB Premiership featuring the two strongest sides from the previous season's ASB Premiership.
Alex Feneridis slipped off his marker to collect a looping cross from Manel Exposito and give the visitors a 24th-minute lead and six minutes later Exposito was provider again, this time to his captain Ivan Vicelich to head home from a free-kick just outside the penalty area.
Tim Myers, playing high in midfield as opposed to his normal position in defence, missed a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit minutes into second half, but Allan Pearce made no mistake in the 50th minute, finishing a move he helped create.
Two minutes later, a superb solo effort from Daniel Koprivcic - the Auckland striker turning his man and slamming the ball past Danny Robinson from the edge of the area - helped to take some sting out of the home side's comeback.
A goalmouth scramble in the 69th minute saw Auckland goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley drop the ball after a strong aerial challenge and this time Myers successfully converted to give Waitakere a glimmer of hope. However, an in-form Auckland dictated the pace of the final stages to secure a early season boost heading into next week's opening weekend of the ASB Premiership.
"It's always good to get off to a winning start,'' said Auckland City coach Ramon Tribulietx.
"We've got a big squad. Everyone's giving us something to think about and everyone's buzzing about trying to force their way into the squad. But it's a long season and it hasn't really started yet so it's great to have options.
Waitakere United coach Neil Emblen acknowledged his side was given a wake-up call in the first half.
"We were generally pleased with the second half but the first half was a good lesson in the level we need to get to.''
"In the first half we did stop them playing which was good but we gave Auckland two goals and all of a sudden it was easy for them. We rarked the boys up a bit at halftime and to be fair to them they showed a good reaction and came out and looked like they meant business in the second half.
With Allan Pearce the only member of last season's title winning front-line available to him today, Emblen was still hopeful about the season's prospects.
"Ryan De Vries should be ready for next weekend and we'll have Roy Krishna back as well so that'll give us more attacking threat than we had today.''
Waitakere United opened their ASB Premiership defence at home on Saturday to Hawke's Bay United while Auckland City are away to Waikato FC on Sunday. The other two matches on Sunday see YoungHeart Manawatu host Canterbury United and Team Wellington entertain Otago United.
ASB Charity Cup 2011
Fred Taylor Park, Auckland
Waitakere United 2 (Allan PEARCE 50', Tim MYERS 69')
Auckland City 3 (Alex FENERIDIS 24', Ivan VICELICH 30', Daniel KOPRIVCIC 52')
Halftime: 0-2