Soccer: No fattened lamb for return of Jordan

Put in a dose of cross-town rivalry and a pinch of bitterness over the "poaching" of a player and it all adds up to what could be a pretty explosive recipe at Trusts Stadium today.

Waitakere United host table-toppers Auckland City in the NZFC and it's unlikely the red carpet will be laid out for striker Keryn Jordan when he makes his first appearance against his old club.

There was a fair amount of resentment over the off-season transfer, with Waitakere believing Jordan, who shared last season's golden boot with fellow South African Grant Young, would remain with them. He has gone on to score six goals this season, including a hat-trick against Wellington last weekend, to help City to top of the table after six rounds.

"I'm just approaching it as another football match," Jordan said, trying to downplay the significance of the circumstances. "I have played professionally for 12 years now, so I know what to expect."

Jordan felt Waitakere had "misled" him about which players would be signed for the league's second season, prompting him to switch to Auckland. He also saw Auckland as his best chance of making to the World Club Champs, especially following Australia's move into Asia.

The irony of his move is not lost on the 30-year-old, considering he came in for some heavy treatment from City fans last season and even ripped down a banner questioning his supposed diving skills after scoring a goal in last year's NZFC final.

"I think that I have always had a love-to-hate relationship," Jordan said of his ability to upset people around him. "Scoring that goal [in the final] was a pretty special moment for me, because I had taken a lot of abuse from the City fans throughout the season and for a brief moment I managed to silence them.

"I think I've taken my foot off the pedal, especially with referees this season, and I feel a lot more relaxed."

Waitakere are already six points behind Auckland and go into today's game without Pablo Cardozo (suspended) and injured trio Shannon Cole, Sean Douglas and Chris Jackson. In today's other games, Manawatu host Otago, Hawke's Bay travel to Wellington and Waikato are at home to Canterbury United.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY