Soccer: Auckland power to third Oceania title

Auckland City's 4-0 win over Amicale earns them a spot in the Fifa Club World Cup. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Auckland City's no-nonsense 4-0 win over Vanuatu champions Amicale at Kiwitea St yesterday emphatically sealed a third Oceania championship and with it a return to Fifa's Club World Cup and a minimum US$500,000 ($625,000) payday.

Determined to head back to the scene of their greatest triumph - the fifth-place finish in 2009 - City booked their place 6-1 on aggregate against an Amicale side who battled bravely but without really threatening a fired-up City team.

"Sure, we were disappointed with the loss in the Grand Final last weekend but this has been our major goal all along," said City co-coach Ramon Tribulietx. "It is fantastic for the boys to achieve this."

For Tribulietx, who was Paul Posa's assistant on the trip to Abu Dhabi, and captain Ivan Vicelich it will be a return to the big time but for co-coach Aaron McFarland it will be a first.

Like everyone, he has to wait to see if Tokyo is confirmed for the December tournament as there have been some suggestions Fifa might look elsewhere after recent tragedies in Japan.

Any doubt his coaching duo would remain intact were quickly dispelled by City chairman Ivan Vuksich.

"It is a fait accompli. Absolutely they will be here again next season," said Vuksich as he joined his coaching staff and the players in celebrating.

"There is a 100 per cent commitment from the club for them to continue."

The players made it clear from the start yesterday they were hellbent on building on their 2-1 first-leg advantage to deny the island nation any chance of following Papua New Guinea's Hekari United as O-League champions.

With none of the slip-ups that cost them the ASB Premiership final, City were clinical in keeping the visitors at arm's length and then taking the opportunities that went their way.

From the time Alex Feneridis crashed a swerving volley into the Amicale goal in the 27th minute, it was all uphill for the visitors.

After having what appeared a legitimate call for a penalty waved away in the 53rd minute, Ian Hogg won one nine minutes later even though the foul appeared to come outside rather than inside the area.

Daniel Koprivcic, later named as player of the O-League, whipped home from the spot.

Manel Exposito underlined his class with a cracker in the 73rd minute and less than 30secs after his 83rd minute introduction from the bench, Adam McGeorge headed home an Exposito cross to complete the scoring.