Auckland City

Hawkes Bay United

2

1

Jason Hayne 15
Grant Young 87

Leon Birnie 88

by Bob Pearce at Kiwitea Street
nzfc.co.nz

Auckland may have taken the three points but they came down with a thump from their Abu Dhabi adventure as they beat Hawkes Bay United 2-1 at Kiwitea Street.

When Auckland went ahead in the 15th minute, it looked like their FIFA Club World Cup service had been resumed. But they squandered a number of other chances before the break and Hawke's Bay grew in confidence.

Hayne's goal was classic City. James Pritchett made good ground on the right and his interplay with Hayne outflanked the defence to provide a simple finish giving Richard Gillespie no chance.

Chad Coombes was roving purposefully for Auckland and he had a couple of useful chances but Gillespie saved well.

At the other end Jacob Spoonley was largely unemployed with Bay's best efforts from long range by Chris Greatholder and Sam Halligan.

At halftime Hawkes Bay coach Matt Chandler called for a more positive attitude and it worked. The Bay were the dominant team as Auckland went through the motions and young Joachim Rande started to run the defence ragged.

The visitors came out aggressively for the second half with a more positive attitude and they had far the better of the play against a weary-looking home side.

The young Solomon Islander Joachim Rande created several chances and in the 62nd minute was desperately unlucky when his header hit the base of the upright and bounced away.

Then in the 83rd minute Birnie hit a shot on the turn but straight at Spoonley.

The decisive goal came against the run of play but as the result of a slick Auckland passing move. Pritchett found Hayne, who slipped the ball to Daniel Koprivcic and his delicate pass allowed substitute Grant Young to score.

Immediately Bay struck back. Fergus Neil made space on the left and his pass allowed Birnie to make amends for his previous miss. At the finish it was the home team who were desperate for the final whistle.

"It was just as we expected," said Auckland coach Paul Posa. "They were physically and mentally tired so we were happy to still take the win. I said before the game don't expect miracles.

"We had good possession in the first half but we couldn't find another goal. I knew Hawkes Bay would be fit and get better as the game went on. It will take us a few weeks to get back where we want to be."

Chandler believed his team deserved at least a draw and he was pleased the way the team responded to his instructions at halftime.

"We were really unlucky with Leon Birnie turning and shooting straight at the goalie and Rande hitting the base of the post. We've become experts at hitting the woodwork unfortunately!," Chandler said.

"Rande is only 19 and he's improving with every game. He really listens to what he's told and that's great."

Chandler reckons Birnie has become one of the fittest players in the NZFC and he had a word of praise for tall defender Stuart Ferguson, who was strong in the air but also surprisingly mobile.

Next Sunday Auckland take on Otago, boosted by their win over Manawatu, and there will be no let-up for the champions.

Auckland City

V

Hawkes Bay United

1 Jacob Spoonley (GK)

23 Richard Gillespie (GK)

3 Ian Hogg

2 Sam Halligan (Neil 67)

4 Sam Campbell

3 Phil Clarke (Bevin 74)

5 Matt Williams

4 Chris Greatholder

6 Ki-Hyung Lee

6 Jonathon Taylor

7 James Pritchett

7 Matt Hastings

8 Chad Coombes (Dickinson 70)

8 Leon Birnie

11 Daniel Koprivcic (Van Steeden 89)

10 Joachim Rande

15 Ivan Vicelich

12 Sam Jacob

16 Jason Hayne

16 Marama Thompson

17 Adam McGeorge

21 Stuart Ferguson

Substitutes

Substitutes

10 Grant Young

1 Shaun Peta

18 Paul Gothard (RGK)

17 Fergus Neil

20 Greg Uhlmann

18 Andy Bevin

21 Riki Van Steeden

22 Willie Stanger

22 Adam Dickinson

20 Chris McIvor

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

0 mins

Beautiful afternoon with gentle wind and crowd in shirtsleeves

1 mins

Brisk start by the Bay ends in goalkick

2 mins

Steepling defender Ferguson clears wildly from attack on right

5 mins

Freekick to City long-range from Lee tipped over by Gillespie

6 mins

Corner untouched across goalmouth by City

7 mins

Hayne gets ball in net but offside

10 mins

Right wing corner to City, glancing header by Vicelich just wide

12 mins

Lee freekick headed clear from just outside penalty area

15 mins

GOAL! Jason Hayne scores after interplay with Pritchett on right. No chance for goalie.

17 mins

 Good work by Rande but poor finish by Halligan

19 mins

Coombes shoots on the turn just wide

22 mins

Halligan long shot just over top as goalie back pedals

26 mins

Frenetic pace slows down with a lot of ball being squandered

28 mins

Greatholder finds space but shoots over from 25 metres

31 mins

Hogg shoots from tight angle on left touched on post by Gillespie

33 mins

McGeorge over top after passing interplay with Hayne

38 mins

Coombes shot blocked by defender

40 mins

Long range shot by Koprivcich sails wide right

43 mins

Shot by Greatholder straight to Spoonley

45 mins

Good pass by Lee, Pritchett's cross intercepted by Gillespie

No added time. Players grateful for break on day of bright sunshine and high temperatures

Too much wasted ball from both sides. Goalie Spoonley only had to make one real save while Gillespie made a couple of good stops.

Fireworks from the Bucket Man at halftime.

46 mins

Leon Birnie breaks through but ruled offside

48 mins

Rande scampers down right but shot flies across the face of goal

49 mins

Koprivcich finds Coombes but touched wide, Campbell heads over top from corner.

50 mins

Rande clear through but shoots wide

56 mins

Grant Young warming up as City lose their shape

57 mins

Bay's first corner, wasted as it sails over attackers

61 mins

Coombes and Gillespie clash freekick to Bay. Substitution Young on for Williams.

62 mins

Ball across goal from Thompson, Rande heads against base of post and it bounces behind

66 mins

Halligan down with injured ankle, returns still limping

67 mins

Yellow card for Clarke. Neil on for Halligan.

70 mins

Substitution Dickinson on for Coombes

72 mins

Hogg denies Birnie after break by Rande

74 mins

Substitution Clarke replaced by Bevin

75 mins

Freekick to Bay on edge of box. Leon Birnie converts the try with metres to spare above the bar.

78 mins

Birnie shot ricochets well over bar.

81 mins

Dickinson shrugs off tackler but shoots wide.

82 mins

Taylor presses forward but Bevin skies shot

83 mins

Bevin cross finds Birnie but his shot on the turn straight at Spoonley

87 mins

GOAL! Pritchett to Hayne to Koprivcic who drags it back for Young to finish -- against run of play

88 mins

GOAL! It's 2-1 after Neil makes play on the left, finds Birnie who turns and scores

89 mins

Substitution Van Steeden for Koprivcich

90 mins

Three minutes of time added

Fulltime 2-1. Not the best performance by City but they'll be happy with the points