Soccer: Emblen's side step closer to final

Waitakere United coach Neil Emblen. Photo / Dean Purcell

Waitakere United took a huge step towards sealing their place in the Oceania Champions League final with a hard-fought 1-0 win over AS Mont-Dore in Noumea.

The victory continued the winning start to the campaign for Neil Emblen and his Waitakere team but it came at a cost with ever-present central defender Tim Myers red-carded, which means he will miss the fourth round clash away to AS Tefana in February.

That game now looms as crucial for both teams.

In putting away Mont-Dore, Waitakere not only ensured they returned home with the maximum nine points from their first three games but in keeping a clean sheet took their goal tally to a decisive 15-0, leaving all their rivals with a minus goal difference.

A win over Tefana would almost certainly seal top spot for Waitakere and book them a play-off with the group B winner - likely to be defending champions Auckland City.

Emblen headed to Noumea expecting a tough battle. He got that and a lot more.

But his woes were nothing compared to the Ba coach. He has a huge problem in preparing for their next game after three of his players were sent off by New Zealand referee Nick Waldron in losing 4-1 to Tefana in Papeete in a game in which two of the goals - one for each team - were scored from the penalty spot.

"This is the third time I've been here and the first time we've won," said Emblen after draws on two previous New Caledonian visits when they played AS Magenta. "I was really happy with the performance and I thought the lads dug deep to get the result.

"I thought we controlled most of the game, particularly the first half. It was obviously going to be difficult after getting a man sent off in the second half but I don't think they troubled us that much, to be honest.

"We changed our formation around and stood strong towards the end. I think they were worried about our pace up front so didn't actually push forward that much. We now have nine points from nine and have good control of the group."

The three points were more than the one they picked up on the road last season.

The stifling conditions were such a factor referee Averii Jacques allowed the players to take a drinks break in both halves.

Ironically, two of the players deemed most susceptible to the heat - English veteran Martin Bullock and Welshman Chris Bale - joined forces to fashion the goal-scoring opportunity. Bullock crossed for Bale who nipped to head home the only goal of the match after 40 minutes.

The visitors were dealt a blow in the 58th minute when Myers was dismissed for a tackle from behind.

Later, a Mont-Dore player was shown a red card but the referee changed his call and flashed yellow instead.

Ba, like Mont-Dore, are almost certainly out of contention in losing for the second time and having Malakai Tiwa, Avinesh Suwamy and Isimeli Naresia sent off.

No games were played in group B but Auckland City gave their Fifa Club World Cup hopes a timely boost with a 2-1 win over Ryutsu Keizai University in Tokyo.

Goals to Luis Corrales and Adama McGeorge, seven minutes apart, had City ahead 2-0 at halftime. The home side clawed one back in the 57th minute but Auckland City held on to win. The margin might have been greater had Daniel Koprivcic converted a late penalty.