Auckland City 3
Hawkes Bay United 1
KEY POINTS:
Auckland City's 3-1 victory over Hawkes Bay United at Kiwitea St yesterday came too late for coach Colin Tuaa. Before the game he tendered his resignation after the former champions had suffered two losses in a row in the New Zealand Football Championship, a rare event for the Sandringham-based club.
Auckland chairman Ivan Vuksich said Tuaa had some personal issues but there had also been pressure for results on the football front.
The club was not impressed that its team captain, Ivan Vicelich, had played 90 minutes for the Oceania All Stars on Saturday against the Los Angeles Galaxy when they had been told he would play only 45. Tuaa was involved in the All Stars coaching.
Paul Posa, who coached successfully with Ricki Herbert previously, will take over temporarily while the club look for a permanent replacement. Their next commitment is an O-League game in Vanuatu, next weekend.
Tuaa said he resigned with mixed emotions and he was not prepared to use some of the personal challenges he faces as an excuse: "I think we were looking at different things and maybe it was best for both sides."
He had criticised the lack of urgency in his team earlier in the week but they stormed on to the attack from the start yesterday and only a stunning double save by goalkeeper Mitch O'Brien denied Paul Urlovic a goal in the first couple of minutes.
But, as has happened so often this season, the momentum stalled and hesitancy between goalie Ross Nicholson and defender Vicelich allowed Leon Birnie a chance in the 15th minute and he capitalised with a deft chip.
It wasn't until the 50th minute that Auckland were back on terms. A goalmouth scramble saw Grant Young slip the ball to Chad Coombes as he fell and Coombes scored from close range.
Five minutes later Auckland were ahead in controversial circumstances. Young was judged to have been fouled by Graham Fyfe and Urlovic converted the penalty. Fyfe received a yellow card and Bay coach Jonathan Gould was banished for his protests about what he later said was "diabolical" refereeing.
In the 80th minute Urlovic sealed the deal for Auckland with some nifty footwork to slip home a cross from Matt Williams. The win moves Auckland City to the top of the table on goal difference from Waikato and avoids an unprecedented three losses on the trot.
In other games yesterday two Stu Hogg goals saw Waikato beat Manawatu 2-0 and Canterbury and Wellington drew 2-2.
