KEY POINTS:
The demands of a third game in six days and a player sent off with over half an hour to play were shrugged off by defending NZFC champions Auckland City in their clinical 2-0 win over Canterbury United at Kiwitea St yesterday.
Coming off five straight wins and a charmed run into the top three, United were expected to severely test a City side which has been under pressure in recent times. Surprisingly, the southerners were never in it.
A fine right wing run from James Pritchett and a well held up ball from Grant Young presented Paul Urlovic with a gilt-edged opportunity - which he calmly took - in the third minute. From that moment, the visitors were only a shadow of the team which turned in a cracker at the same ground in last season's grand final.
Led by the 'bionic' Young, who defied his 30-something years to run himself ragged, City defended solidly, giving the revamped and lauded Canterbury attack nothing.
Goalkeeper Ross Nicholson was rarely called into action, as his back four played cool, no-nonsense football - snuffing out the supposed threat from Brent Fisher, Henry Fa'arodo, Andy Barron and Stuart Kelly.
United were disappointing. They seemed intent on playing without width but only played into City's hands. Even after the rigours of the week and without Keryn Jordan, injured Bryan Little and Riki Van Steeden and, for the last half hour, defender Ben Sigmund, the hosts were seldom troubled.
Only on the rare occasions when Fa'arodo added width to the United attack did they pose any threat. They went closest in the 29th minute, when Barron snapped a shot which Nicholson blocked.
Even with the advantage of the extra player - former Canterbury player Sigmund was sent off after being shown two yellow cards 13 minutes apart - United did not threaten until the dying minutes.
Kelly smacked a long range shot on to the post and a minute later, Fisher and Fa'arodo combined but the City defence swooped to clear off the line.
By then City had doubled their lead in the 72nd minute when, in a bizarre incident, Canterbury goalkeeper Adam Highfield tangled with Young and referee Peter O'Leary pointed to the spot. Young smartly kicked home.
After languishing mid-table for a few weeks, Auckland are showing they are ready to contend for a third straight title.
All Whites defender Andrew Boyens has been drafted by new Major League Soccer club Toronto FC. Boyens, studying at the University of New Mexico in the US, was snared in the MLS draft yesterday by coach Mo Johnston.
