Soccer: Normal service is resumed

Grant Young (left) and Keryn Jordan, of Auckland City. Picture / Brett Phibbs

Auckland City will simply turn up, make the trek from the dressing room to the pitch at Trusts Stadium on Sunday afternoon, play Waitakere United, and, 90 minutes later go home with the goodies. History and the odds certainly suggest that.

Despite being touted as City's biggest challenger over the years, United have been a dismal failure in these cross-town battles. In seven clashes, including the 2004-5 grand final, United have come up short - losing them all. City have scored 20 goals, including five in last season's embarrassing 5-1 romp at Kiwitea St, and United just eight.

City will take some real momentum into the game after beating Hawkes Bay United 6-2 on Monday.

While Auckland were taking real heart in the return to the goal-scoring form of Grant Young and Keryn Jordan, Waitakere stumbled to a 1-1 draw at Team Wellington.

After three rounds City, with eight, are the leading scorers. While YoungHeart Manawatu's Benjamin Totori is the early leader in the Golden Boot (on four), his nearest challengers are all from Roger Wilkinson's City side - with Young, Jordan, Paul Seaman and Ross McKenzie having scored two each.

Against Hawkes Bay, Dean Gordon marked his debut with a solid game, joining the impressive Ben Sigmund, Jonathan Perry and Cole Tinkler in a useful back four.

The midfield, led centrally by captain Neil Sykes and Seaman, provided the service Jordan and Young needed to do their best work.

While Wilkinson will be happy with his team's return to form, Steve Cain, his counterpart out west, had some concerns after a 2-1 win over Canterbury. Buoyed by the first-up win over Waikato, Cain was looking for more of the same in their first home game. He didn't get it and will need a turnaround if they are to break their duck against an Auckland City side building towards December's World Club Championships.

There will be a couple of battles within the battle when City tackle Waitakere.

Daniel Kopricvic, who scored the equaliser in United's 1-1 draw in Wellington, was a long-time Central player. United defender Rupesh Puna has played at Kiwitea St, as has Sam Jasper. Prince Quansah and brothers Joel and Sam Mathews and Jeff Campbell also switched to United after time with Central.

United captain Danny Hay is back for a second tilt at his old club. In his earlier date with City, Hay limped out of the game after 10 minutes, United went on to lose 3-1 and he hardly played again in that 2004-05 season. He also missed last season as he flirted with the Knights.

"This is a local derby with plenty on it," said United chairman Rex Dawkins. "Any football follower will want to be there. The first time we played Auckland City at our ground we had a crowd of over 3000.

"Hopefully we will get something like that on Sunday."

Leaders YoungHeart Manawatu are away to Hawkes Bay tomorrow and should make it four-from-four to continue their early-season domination, while Team Wellington and Canterbury United are also away in key games against Waikato FC and Otago United.