Soccer: Auckland City claim Charity Cup

The come-from-behind 4-1 win over Waitakere United in a spirited ASB Charity Cup clash yesterday was just the workout Auckland City coach Ramon Tribulietx and his players were looking for.

Apart from an early setback when newcomer Jordan Lowdon sprung the City defence to give the hosts the lead just 2m 20s into the game, the visitors looked comfortable enough showing the benefits of a more intensive pre-season as they build towards another trip to Fifa's Club World Cup in Morocco next month.

The equaliser came on the half hour when Roy Krishna, in his first trip to Fred Taylor Park in other than a Waitakere strip, had his shot blocked and Emiliano Tade was on hand to finish for 1-1.

City needed only six minutes in the second spell to go ahead when a mix-up in the United defence after referee Chris Kerr had waved play on, led to an easy one-two between Tade and Daniel Koprivcic who had an easy roll in for 2-1 which three minutes later became 3-1 when a long ball from captain Ivan Vicelich found Krishna who controlled well before providing a clinical finish.

The scoring was completed three minutes from time when a Chris Bale corner was parried by Danny Robinson and Andrew Milne whipped the ball home.

"I was happy enough with the way we played," said Tribulietx. "It was a tough game physically but no more than we expected. Coming up to Waitakere is never easy. It was the seventh game we have had but the first real test in a competitive game."

With that trip to the Club World Cup looming, there is some pressure on the players as City has a 24-strong squad of which 22, including the mandatory three goalkeepers, will travel.

"Pressure is good for the players. We know we face a tough season so to get a game like this is a good start. With the games we will miss while we are away, we know we will have catch-up games which will make for a tough second half of the season."

Tribulietx was pleased with the way in which his new signings fitted in.

"I thought John Irving was very good defensively and Roy Krishna, along with Ryan de Vries and David Browne when they came on, gave us a lot of options with the pace they have."

Waitakere coach Brian Shelley said he was not going to make excuses but admitted it was a difficult test after what has been a very limited pre-season.

"It was probably a bit unfair to ask Jordon [Lowdon] and Richie Cardozo to start as they have been here for only a few days and had just the two training sessions," said Shelley. "But they showed they are good players."

He was also happy with what another newcomer, Alec Solomons, showed him after being handed a start just before kick-off when Tim Myers was ruled out through injury.

"We are not hitting the panic button but we did lack match fitness but we know we can only get better as we know there are not going to be any easy games this season.