Soccer: Jordan the Heartbreaker

Auckland City 2 Manawatu 1

Youngheart Manawatu failed in their bid to secure the minor premiership title yesterday, going down 2-1 in Auckland.

They hadn't recorded a win at Kiwitea St previously and history wasn't about to be altered. The win puts Auckland ahead in the race for automatic qualification to the Oceania playoffs for the World Club Championship and ensures the title will go to the wire.

Colin Tuaa's men hit the ground running, putting pressure on Auckland from the opening whistle. A debatable penalty was awarded in the 9th minute for a City player handling in the box.

Commins Menapi sent the keeper the wrong way to give Manawatu an early advantage.

Keryn Jordan showed why he's the league's leading scorer. His alertness when latching on to a loose ball could have brought Auckland back into the match, only for his venomous shot to strike the upright. Gradually City began to settle into a period of dominance, with only the fleet-footed Benjamin Totori causing any concern.

Grant Young brought quick reward from their high percentage of ball, equalising in the 25th minute with a rasping shot that sunk the hearts of the team in green.

An enforced change to the Auckland defence, following an injury to Jonathan Perry, unsettled City enough for them to concede two dangerous free kicks in as many minutes. Paul Seaman picked up a yellow for his tackle on Ian Sandbrook. Liam Mulrooney followed him into the referee's book shortly after. But on both occasions Manawatu failed to capitalise.

Alick Maemae, the little man at the heart of the Manawatu attack, was another to suffer from some rough-house Auckland defending as they aimed to close down any openings with force.

Frustration had got the better of Maemae when he later hacked at the legs of Jordan and earned himself the third yellow of the first half. But Jordan closed out the first 45 with an open-goal miss from comedy central.

Once again Manawatu were quickest out of the blocks in the second half, Totori attempting to strengthen the gap in this race for the title. But they hadn't counted on the talent of Jordan.

His volleying had, at times, a balletic quality matched only by the agility of YoungHeart keeper Hayden Engelfield. Now it became Manawatu's turn to dish out the heavy stuff. Seaman and Greg Uhlmann were both upended in tackles that should have graced the NRL - Adam Cowan picking up a booking for the last one.

Neither side seemed able to shake the other for long enough to create an opening. Mulrooney half-connected only to see the ball bounce delicately on to the crossbar. Having jogged side by side for most of the second half, Auckland made a break for it in the 71st minute - Jordan latching onto a perfectly-weighted ball by Seaman. Manawatu couldn't respond.

"The boys were sparkling beforehand and it was a matter of calming them down. They kept their discipline when things could have got away from them," said victorious City coach Allan Jones.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY