South African born De Vries was nearly the hero for the senior side earlier in the day but put what would have been the winner in an entertaining NZFC derby between the same clubs narrowly wide after coming on as a late substitute.
But De Vries wasted little time in erasing that memory, putting the home side ahead in the youth derby inside 15 minutes.
And when James Hoyt levelled the scores in the 28th minute Waitakere, who lost 6-4 to Auckland in last season’s Youth League final, responded from the kick-off with De Vries’ second goal.
Rory Kelly sent the two sides into the shed level at 2-2 before De Vries gave Waitakere the lead a third time in the 58th minute.
Waitakere’s Jason Hicks and Auckland’s Tim Payne traded goals to leave the score hanging at 4-3 with 10 minutes remaining, and the scoring didn’t stop there as Dakota Lucas and Daniel Morgan each netted in stoppage time.
With two wins from their opening two matches, Waitakere keep their noses in front, but only by the narrow count back on goals scored, of a hard chasing Auckland-Manukau side who came from a goal down in Napier to beat Hawke’s Bay United 3-1 on Sunday.
Max Logan’s opener on the half hour mark was all that separated the two sides at halftime in atrocious conditions, but Auckland-Manukau stormed back with goals to Ross Haviland and George Konusi sandwiching a Harrison Nash penalty in the second half.
The South Aucklanders have a week off next week while Hawke’s Bay are away to Auckland City on Sunday with both sides desperate for three points. Waikato are also chasing their first win of the campaign but face table-topping Waitakere in Whenuapai.
Saturday
Waitakere United 5 (Ryan De Vries 14, 29, 58; Jason Hicks 69, Dakota Lucas 90+2)
Auckland City 4 (James Hoyt 28, Rory Kelly 44, Tim Payne 80, Daniel Morgan 90+4)
Halftime: 2-2
Sunday
Hawke's Bay United 1 (Max Logan 30)
Auckland-Manukau 3 (Ross Haviland 55, Harrison Nash pen-80, George Konusi 86)
Halftime: 0-1
Note: The Southern Conference begins on February 21.
Photo: Shane Wenzlick/Photosport
