Soccer: City too sharp in Honiara

O-League Final:
Auckland City 2
Koloale FC 7

Auckland City have all but booked a place in the Club World Cup after a flattering five-goal win in the first leg of the O-League final in Honiara yesterday.

A hat-trick from second half substitute Keryn Jordan means the NZFC champions head into Sunday's second leg with plenty of breathing space.

City were wary of their Solomon Island opponents, after Waitakere United lost 3-1 in the first leg of last year's O-League final at the same venue.

That determination to avoid complacency appeared warranted when Richard Anisua gave Koloale the lead after just 10 minutes in front of a crowd estimated at 20,000 at Lawson Tama Stadium.

The hosts thought they had a second six minutes later when Anisua lobbed the keeper from the edge of the area but Australian referee Strebre Delovski had whistled for a Koloale free kick a split-second earlier.

Matt Williams equalised for Auckland in the 24th minute and the 1-1 scoreline was a fair reflection of an even opening half an hour.

But two goals in two minutes close to halftime swung the game Auckland's way.

Former South Korean international Ki-Hyung Lee curled a free kick into the top right corner of Shadrack Ramoni's goal from 35m out to put Auckland ahead.

Seconds later, Paul Urlovic scored off a square ball from Grant Young to give City a 3-1 halftime lead.

Ivan Vicelich headed Auckland's fourth on the hour, set up by a pass from Lee. Supersub Jordan, who replaced Urlovic at halftime, side-footed the fifth off a Milos Nikolic cross.

Even when Koloale narrowed the gap to 5-2 when Anisua netted his second, Jordan restored Auckland's four-goal advantage with a goal straight from the restart and then scored his third in the 85th minute.

Anisua looked set to match the South African's hat-trick when Koloale were awarded an injury-time penalty but Jacob Spoonley saved his spot kick.

Auckland City coach Paul Posa said the scoreline flattered his side.

"The finishing was extraordinary today," said Posa. "We probably didn't create more than about seven or eight chances but we just put them all away and that was the difference.

"I think Koloale dictated the play for periods and they deserved three or four goals themselves."

The final's second leg will be played at Kiwitea St on Sunday. Barring a miraculous comeback, Auckland City will travel to Dubai in December for the Club World Cup, a tournament with minimum prizemoney of US$500,000 for each participating team.

Auckland City 7 (M Williams 24, KH Lee 39, P Urlovic 40, I Vicelich 59, K Jordan 65, 77, 85) Koloale FC 2 (R Anisua 10, 76). Halftime: 3-1.