KEY POINTS:
A stoppage-time penalty earned Otago United a deserved first win of the New Zealand Championship and South Island bragging rights.
Their 2-1 win over Canterbury United at Sunnyvale was some compensation for Terry Phelan and his team who deserved a point in their season opener against Auckland City.
Ryan Faichnie gave visiting Canterbury the early lead which they still enjoyed at halftime. David Dugdale grabbed the equaliser four minutes into the second half and then, in the second minute of added time, a last-ditch winning penalty.
In Saturday's action, Auckland City had two goals from 60th minute substitute Milos Nikolic - in the 69th and 70th minute - to thank for their 3-1 win over Waikato FC at Centennial Park, Ngaruawahia.
Paul Urlovic, handed a start in Grant Young's absence, gave City their lead after 23 minutes. The home side got one back in the 77th minute with a Steven Holloway penalty.
Team Wellington, beaten finalists last season, have unceremoniously been dumped to the bottom of the table following their 3-0 loss to YoungHeart Manawatu.
First half goals to Jason Hayne and captain Adam Cowan had Bob Sova's team comfortably ahead at the interval. Hayne's second, in the 81st minute, sealed it and took him to the early lead in the golden boot.
The only consolation Waitakere United coach Chris Milicich could take from his team's resounding loss to the Wellington Phoenix in the Cue Sports Challenge on Saturday is that Adelaide United were also beaten in their Hyundai A-League game a few hours later. A tired Adelaide side were beaten 3-0 by Central Coast Mariners in their catch-up game.
That loss followed 3-0 and 2-0 losses to Japan's Gamba Osaka in Asian Champions League action.
But, as the Phoenix showed in handing Waitakere a drubbing, a huge step up is needed to bridge the gap between amateur and professional football.
From the time Adam Kwasnik, admittedly from an offside position, gave the Phoenix the lead after 13 minutes, there was only one team in it.
Too fast - both physically and mentally - for Waitakere, Ricki Herbert's team gave the hosts what they wanted: a footballing lesson and a firm indication of what to expect when they meet Adelaide in the opening game of Fifa's World Club Cup in Tokyo on December 11.
Herbert too was happy with what he saw saying it was a "fantastic" experience for his players.
Of the question of the Phoenix being able to represent New Zealand in the O-League, Herbert would not be drawn, saying, simply, "that's not a question for me".
