KEY POINTS:
NZFC
Auckland City 3
Waikato FC 0
Goals in the first and last 10 minutes and a clean sheet for the second successive week earned Auckland City a deserved 3-0 win over Waikato FC at Kiwitea St
yesterday, shooting them back to the top of the New Zealand Football Championship.
City's fifth win of the season, in their first home game since early December, puts the pressure back on arch-rivals Waitakere United, who go into this afternoon's clash with Hawke's Bay United two points off the lead but with three games in hand.
Waikato dropped from a share of second to fifth place on goal difference.
Keryn Jordan, left to fly the South African flag at City following compatriot Grant Young's decision to quit, played a huge part in yesterday's win.
His 10th minute strike on the counter-attack led to the corner which produced the opening goal.
Ki-Hung Lee swung in the ball, the defence struggled to clear and former Waikato defender Matt
Friel reacted to stab home from close range.
The game then slumped into meander mode, with only half chances to Liam Mulrooney, Jordan - just wide with an overhead attempt - and Chad Coombes, whose well-struck shot was well-saved by lanky American goalkeeper Greg Walters.
City continued to press in the second spell taking their corner count to a healthy 13 (to Waikato's six) but were unable to unlock the defence until Jordan struck in the 85th minute.
He ran on to a free kick played long and crashed home a left-footer from outside the area which sneaked inside the near post.
While referee Michael Hester continued to ensure there would be another healthy increase in New Zealand Football coffers by dishing out seven yellow cards, the home side made certain of the points in stoppage time when the visitors wilted under pressure, resulting in Craig Wylie deflecting the ball into his own goal.
"We have been playing well and creating chances" said Auckland coach Paul Posa. "Today, for a change, they went in."
Posa, encouraged by the work of young goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley, who pulled off a couple of timely saves, made it clear that stalwart Ross Nicholson had not been dropped to make way for Spoonley. Rather, he said, it was a case of Spoonley being rewarded for his hard work at training.
"Ross is still very much in the frame," said Posa. "And he has been very supportive of the decision to give Jacob his chance."
Waitakere's game today against Hawke's Bay at Trusts Stadium is the first of six in 22 days for the O-League champions, who are catching up on fixtures missed leading up to the Club World Cup. Team Wellington are home to YoungHeart Manawatu and Canterbury host Otago in other games today. All kick off at 3pm.
