Minor premiers Auckland City have all but sealed a place in the ASB Premiership final with a 4-0 dismantling of local rivals Waitakere United in the first leg of their semifinal yesterday.
Waitakere had home advantage but failed to capitalise as Auckland ran rampant. Waitakere must win by four goalsor more at Kiwitea St to keep their title hopes alive. Auckland have not lost at home this season.
City's Argentinian striker Emiliano Tade carried his golden boot-winning regular season form into the playoffs with a double, while inspirational captain Ivan Vicelich and fullback Takuya Iwata, neither of whom appear often on the scoresheet, also found the net.
The opening was fairly even but it swung in the visitors' favour when they took the lead in the 27th minute and the identity of the scorer surprised no one.
Tade hit a hat-trick last week against Hawke's Bay United to wrap up the golden boot with 12 strikes and he took up where he left off to get on the end of a Joao Moreira cutback and finish neatly. He had a second to celebrate just before halftime, slamming home into the roof of the net when a loose ball broke to him.
Waitakere, searching for an unprecedented fifth title in a row, did their best to get back into the game but lacked the required inspiration.
The hosts had been made to chase the ball for long periods as Auckland employed their usual possession-based style and all that running took its toll in the closing stages. Recently-retired All White Vicelich, who pushed forward into a midfield role late on, was the beneficiary of some pinball in the box after Tade had hit the post in the 88th minute, before Iwata popped up to slot home a rare strike.
