Allan Pearce scored twice for Waitakere United. Photo / Dean Purcell
O-League
Waitakere United10
AS Tefana 0
Waitakere United grabbed their own special slice of history yesterday as they went on a goalscoring rampage to open their O-League season. Their 10-0 victory was not only their largest O-League victory, but also the biggest win in the history of the competition.
The match was affected in the seventh minute when the AS Tefana goalkeeper was sent off but you had to admire the ruthless approach of the NZFC champions. They had scored six goals by halftime, constantly springing the Tefana offside trap. Roy Krishna was the individual star with five goals while Ryan De Vries bagged a hat trick.
"The red [card] changed everything but we were clinical which was the most important thing," said coach Neil Emblen. "It is three points today but it almost feels like four as it will be hard for other teams in the group to haul in our goal difference."
Captain Jake Butler created their first real opportunity, playing a defence-splitting pass to Krishna, who was brought down as he ran on past the keeper. The referee didn't hesitate and Allan Pearce confidently buried the resultant penalty. Pearce, who has a solitary All Whites cap, then produced a delightful cross for De Vries to score at the far post four minutes later.
Before the sending off, it had threatened to be a decent contest. The Tahitian champions had made a bright start with their fluid 'pass and move' brand of football. At 2-0 down Tefana did briefly show some mettle. Pearce had to clear off his line after Danny Robinson misjudged a flighted corner and Axel Williams had the ball in the Waitakere net only for it to be ruled out by a dubious offside call. After that let-off, Waitakere flicked the switch once again. It became the Pearce and Krishna show, as they scored or set up each of the next four goals before the break. The stand-out was Krishna's first, as the Fijian international produced an inch-perfect chipped finish after another measured Butler pass.
Krishna completed a well-deserved hat-trick in the 49th minute and notched his fourth with 20 minutes to play. His fifth was perhaps the best of the lot as he skipped past three defenders before sliding home from the edge of the area.
Waitakere United 10 (R. Krishna 5, R. De Vries 3, A. Pearce 2 [1 penalty]) AS Tefana 0. Halftime: 6-0.
Meanwhile defending champions Auckland City got the defence of their O-League title off to an ideal start in challenging conditions yesterday, overcoming the heat and humidity of Honiara to post a 4-1 win against Solomon Islands side Koloale.
With temperatures soaring into the mid-30s and a vocal crowd of over 10,000 packed into Lawson Tama Stadium, the result was never going to be straightforward. A pair of braces, to former Barcelona B striker Manuel Exposito and All Whites midfielder David Mulligan, were enough to steer City home.
However, any hopes City had of a comfortable last half hour were dashed when Coombes brought down Solomon Islands international James Naka in the box on 73 minutes and former Waitakere United star Benjamin Totori slotted home. Koloale pushed hard for an equaliser - but when a goal did arrive it was Mulligan restoring Auckland's two-goal cushion with a fortuitous lob with a few minutes remaining.
The former Wellington Phoenix man then made sure the points would be going City's way with another strike in injury time. Auckland City's next match in the O-League is at home to Papua New Guinea side Hekari United on November 19.