KEY POINTS:
A draw is the last thing on Waitakere United coach Steve Cain's mind as he prepares to battle Auckland City in the game of the season at Kiwitea St on Wednesday.
Home with three points from a comfortable 3-0 win over New Caledonia's AS Mont Dore in Noumea on Saturday, Cain said going out to play for a draw in the group A Oceania Nations Cup decider was fraught with danger.
"That's not how we are going to approach it," said Cain yesterday after United had joined City on the top of the table with seven points but edged ahead of their long-time nemesis on goal difference with their battling win against the struggling New Caledonians.
"We will take some confidence into the game after the way we have played recently," said Cain. "We have learned how to win, which is important in a situation like this."
United set up the classic contest - the group winner will go on to meet group B winners Ba (Fiji) home and away to decide the O-League and with it the opportunity to play in Fifa's Club World Cup in Japan in December - with their no-frills win.
In stifling conditions - around 36C - and with players from both teams down to walking pace before halftime, United blew a couple of chances but settled down once Commins Menapi scored after 11 minutes. That goal took the Solomon Islander to the top of the O-League scoring list with four.
Michael Gwyther, called up to the island nation on Friday as cover for Daniel Kopricvic who knocked a knee in their 8-0 warm-up win over Glenfield Rovers, scored the second for 2-0 in the 40th minute.
Allan Pearce and Hoani Edwards did not go out for the second half after struggling in the sapping conditions. Pearce was also being protected as he was carrying a yellow card and Cain did not want to risk losing him for Wednesday's game.
Craig Wylie, on for Edwards, sealed the victory with his 50th minute goal.
"Sure, we want to go to the World Club Championships, but we have to take it one step at a time," said Cain. "We did what we had to and now look at what's next."
Cain takes some confidence into Wednesday's game having come back from 0-1 to finish 1-1 in their last meeting at the ground, that was despite playing the last hour a player short after Hone Fowler had been sent off.
With Mont Dore failing to take a point and scoring just one goal in four games, a New Caledonian team must now play in the O-League preliminary tournament in the Cook Islands in May. With Waitakere and Auckland City comfortably in the top four, of six, teams in this seasons competition, New Zealand will again have two teams in the next O-League.
Waitakere will be one, the other will be decided after the April 16 New Zealand Football Champions grand final at North Harbour Stadium with either City or YoungHeart Manawatu claiming the second spot.
