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Waitakere United 3 Port Vila Sharks 0
The ghosts rattling around Waitakere United after last week's 7-0 defeat to the Phoenix were exorcised at Trusts Stadium yesterday.
A goal up after 20 minutes, United soon raced to 3-0 and were untroubled to see off Vanuatu champions Port Vila Sharks by that score in their O-League group A clash - and remain unbeaten after a 2-2 draw in their opening match with arch-rivals Auckland City.
The second half was drab by comparison, with few clear chances for the home side who seemed content to retain their advantage and hold something in reserve for Wednesday's NZFC battle against Auckland City at Kiwitea St.
Far from impressed with the drubbing, Waitakere coach Chris Milicich rang the changes in his starting line-up, introducing Fijian striker Roy Krishna just hours after he stepped off the plane.
Krishna, who scored both goals in Fiji's 2-0 midweek win over the All Whites, repeated that double act with the second and third goals for Waitakere after Paul Seaman had opened the scoring in the 21st minute, nodding home a right wing cross.
Krishna's lively presence taunted the Port Vila defence and led to Tahitian referee Norbert Hauata booking Sharks' defender Samson Obed when he lashed out at the Fijian in an off-the-ball incident.
Waitakere goalie Richard Gillespie was largely unemployed. The visitors' only chances, although they were more like half chances, were a shot just wide by Fenedy Masauvakalo and a header which flew over the goal.
Jeff Campbell played a free kick short to Neil Emblen who blasted his shot which goalkeeper John Garae could only push away for corner.
After the break Milicich gave Benjamin Totori, Allan Pearce and Adriano Pimenta game time. The home side held the upper hand but without threatening to score.
Jean Nako Naprapol, a halftime substitute, had two shots - the first Gillespie could catch cleanly. The second, the visitors' best effort, called on Gillespie to pull off a good reflex save which he tipped over for a stoppage time corner.
There was a step up from some of the Waitakere players who had seen their dreams of playing in next month's Fifa World Club Cup in Japan disappearing with their efforts against the Phoenix.
Gillespie, Chris Bale, Emblen and Krishna were the pick of the United side.
The next match is on December 13 when Auckland City play the Sharks in Port Vila.