Soccer: Auckland stay in complete control

Auckland continued their march towards a New Zealand Football Championship title with a 3-0 away win over strugglers Hawke's Bay in Napier yesterday. The competition front-runners had the match parcelled up at 2-0 at halftime as they cruised to their 11th win from 13 this season to stretch a seven-point lead over Manawatu, who face a tough trip to Waitakere today.

The action started early for Auckland, without injured striker Grant Young, as Paul Urlovic celebrated his recall to the All Whites with a goal in the first minute.

Then it was the prolific Keryn Jordan's turn to find the net on the 25 minute mark - his 17th goal in the past 10 matches.

The Auckland marksmen couldn't find the net in the second half but the game was put beyond doubt in the 69th minute when Hawke's Bay's Nick Lucas scored an own goal.

Hawke's Bay 0 Auckland 3 (Paul Urlovic, Keryn Jordan, Nick Lucas own goal). |
Halftime: 0-2.