Soccer: Slick City ease into final

Auckland 3 Canterbury 0

Keryn Jordan was the undoubted star for Auckland City yesterday as they eased past Canterbury United 3-0 to book their place in the final of the New Zealand Football Championship in two weeks' time.

The South African talisman scored City's opener and later hit an upright and, with fellow South African Grant Young, caused plenty of problems for out-of-sorts Canterbury.

Jordan seems a natural for the goal-shy New Zealand Knights but he diplomatically drew a veil over any future he may have with the A-League side.

"There have been discussions but nothing is formalised," said Jordan after the match. "I don't really want to comment on that at the moment. I want to concentrate on Auckland City and see what happens once the season here is over."

This season will be over on April 22 when City bid to reclaim the NZFC against whoever comes out of the scrum involving round-robin runners up YoungHeart Manawatu, Team Wellington and yesterday's vanquished Canterbury. Manawatu and Wellington play today for the right to take on Canterbury in the final semifinal. Canterbury would have to improve markedly if they make the final. They were lacking in ideas and the rare chances the City defence gave them were squandered before a crowd of 800.

Jordan opened the scoring in the 27th minute, rising to a Neil Sykes' free kick and beating Canterbury goalkeeper James Bannatyne's advance and flicking into the net.

The game needed a goal. It had been meandering along, with City holding a territorial advantage but only having Jonathan Smith's crossbar-nicking volley in the 17th minute to signal their superiority.

Two minutes after Jordan's strike, Liam Mulrooney put City 2-0 up from close range.

Much was expected of the Knights-turned-Perth hero Jeremy Brockie. Perhaps his mind was already on West Australian Glory, but he hardly showed in the first spell.

In the second half he came into the game wide on the right and hit three shots which all sailed over.

City keeper Ross Nicholson was finally called on to make a crucial save when All White Andrew Barron curled a fine free-kick toward the top right corner and the big City custodian made good ground to tip it wide.

City took the game out of United's reach in the 57th minute when Young tapped home.

Canterbury attempted to come back and Brockie had his flurry of shots. But City knew they had the game wrapped up.

-HERALD ON SUNDAY