Soccer: South African double act conjure up derby victory

Auckland City's James Pritchett, left, and Waitakere's Ben Hall leap for the ball at Trusts Stadium yesterday. Picture / Martin Sykes

Auckland City 2 Waitakere Utd 1

The hex Auckland City have enjoyed over Waitakere United continued yesterday - but it was another close-run thing at Trusts Stadium.

In the end, City got home 2-1 with a late goal conjured up by their South African double act of Keryn Jordan-Grant Young, making it five-from-five against their crosstown rivals.

More importantly for the visitors it kept them top of the table at the end of the first of three rounds of the New Zealand Football Championship - helped by the first draw in the 28 games of the season so far.

In playing 90 minutes of scoreless football in Palmerston North, YoungHeart Manawatu and Otago United lost ground, leaving Auckland City two points clear at the top.

Canterbury United held on to beat lowly Waikato FC 1-0, the only goal in a dour struggle scored by Ben Sigmund after eight minutes when he headed home from a set play allowing his side to move ahead of Otago into third place.

At Newtown Park, Team Wellington made hard work of it before getting home 2-1 over bottom-of-the-table Hawkes Bay United.

Two goals in three minutes, the first from Karl Whalen and the second in the 24th minute from Graham Little, had the home side in control.

Six minutes later Sam Jenkins got one back for the visitors but that was it. Little and Peter Halstead had second half chances for Wellington but failed to convert as they held on for their third win of the season.

But the real action came in the all-Auckland affair. This was no place for the faint-hearted.

Big George Suri wasted no time in showing the underdog Waitakere side meant business, booked for a foul on Jordan in the seventh minute in a game in which feelings ran high throughout.

The first spell was dominated by City.

Making good use of the swirling wind, the visitors enjoyed a huge advantage of both possession and shots on goal.

Yet it was a shocking defensive error which gifted them their only goal of the spell after they had had one disallowed, another blocked by United goalkeeper Simon Eaddy and two Jordan half chances had hit the upright.

On the half hour, central defender Marcel Isakowitz, in his last game for United before returning to Germany, turned Father Christmas when he played a weak clearance towards Suri which Jordan pounced on, drew Eaddy and had the simplest tap in.

City continued where they left off at the start of the second half, but Paul Urlovic was twice denied by superb Eaddy saves. Young and Jonathan Smith were also thwarted by amazing saves.

That signalled the turnaround, with United taking control.

Daniel Ellensohn toe-poked wide before, in the 79th minute, he played a deft one-two with Richie Cardozo, accepted the return and snapped a great shot for the equaliser.

United substitute Chris Limmer then had a chance but City keeper Ross Nicholson was equal to the task.

It was still locked 1-1 before referee Michael Hester, who had a nightmare, signalled four minutes of added time.

It was an inconsistent performance from Hester as he and fourth official Michael Brock somehow found the need to book seven players (five United, two City) including United substitute Prince Quansah for persistent infringing after just a few minutes of action.

Cardozo was booked for diving in what appeared a genuine challenge.

Bemused and bewildered by Hester's calls, the Waitakere players switched off and were punished when, from a quickly taken Jordan freekick, Young had a simple tap-in for the winner 2m 20s into added time.

Both coaches declined to comment on the match officials although United's Steve Cain said: "That is the best refereeing performance we have had in the past four games; draw your own conclusion."

City coach Allan Jones was far from happy with Hester but gratefully accepted the points, acknowledging United deserved better after restricting his side to just one goal in the first spell.

"It was just what we expected," said Jones. "A hard-fought, typical local derby."