Football: Contrasting fortunes for Auckland and Waitakere

Emiliano Tade (left) scored for Auckland City against Canterbury United. Photo / Getty

Auckland City FC have stamped their authority on the ASB Premiership, crushing Canterbury United 4-1 to continue their strong start to the season.

Things aren't so rosy for their crosstown rivals however, with Waitakere United's dismal last few weeks continuing with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Team Wellington.

The results see Auckland sit atop the table and Waitakere mired in seventh - a stark contrast from the usual top of the table battles shared between the Premiership's two historically dominant sides.

Auckland's victory was clinical, taking apart a Canterbury side which had picked up two wins from two to start their campaign.

Ryan De Vries got the hosts underway with a first-half goal at Kiwitea Street, and his effort was added to quickly in the second half through goals to Joao Moreira and Mikel Alvaro. Youth international Andre De Jong pulled one back for Canterbury but Auckland's array of overseas talent had the final say when Emiliano Tade slotted a fourth past Coey Turipa in the Canterbury goal.

Auckland now have 10 points through four games, three ahead of the only team to have taken points off them so far this season - Hawke's Bay United, who have played a game less.

In third spot are Team Wellington who compounded Waitakere's misery with a home victory at David Farrington Park.

Waitakere fired their player-coach Brian Shelley midweek following a 5-1 defeat at the hands of WaiBOP United, but new coach Chris Milicich couldn't create a quick turnaround.

Former Wellington Phoenix defender James Musa was the star, scoring a first-half header and a second-half half-volley to cancel out Nathaniel Bowen's goal for Waitakere. He then turned provider, being part of an intricate build-up to set up Joseph Dixon for the game-sealing third goal.

In today's other contest, Southern United picked up their first win of the season in the battle of the cellar dwellers. A seventh minute goal from Andrew Ridden was enough for a 1-0 win over the Wellington Phoenix Reserves, who are now the only winless side in the competition.

Earlier in the round, Hawke's Bay defeated WaiBOP 1-0.