Hekari earn City’s respect

HOSTS Auckland City saw off a brave challenge from PNG’s Hekari United on Saturday winning 2-0.
Manel Exposito and substitute Emi­liano Tade scored in the second half of their Group B O-League clash at St Kiwitea, Auckland.
Hekari and City played to a 0-0 halftime score with neither side quite able to capitalise on their opportunities.
But City coach Ramon Tribulietx was happy to make it two from two giving credit to a well-organised Hekari side. 
“It was definitely a tough test for us. They’re a very good team and you can tell that they won the competition two years ago and have the experience of playing at a Club World Cup level,” Tribulietx said.
The win sees City entrenched at the top of the group on six points and looking every chance of defending their O-League crown this season.
In other Group B results, Amicale beat Koloale 2-0 in Port Vila moving into second on four points with Hekari (1) and Koloale (0) languishing behind.
In the only Group A match of the weekend, Waitakere United belted Fiji’s Ba 4-0 in Auckland yesterday.
Waitakere lead their group on six points with Ba (3) next followed by Mont-Dore (1) and Tefana (1).
Opportunities were at a premium in the first half as the home side battled into a strong wind.
Exposito hit the side netting in the 10th minute but it was on the half hour mark that he should have opened the scoring when City earned a penalty courtesy of a Pita Bolatoga handball.
But the Spanish-born striker could only hit the ball straight at Leslie Kalai, who then saved Albert Riera’s follow-up shot from a tight angle. 
Hekari’s best chance came in the 35th minute when Taniela Waqa’s long range strike sailed just over the crossbar. 
After a goalless first-half, the visitors had appeals for a penalty turned down shortly after the break when Ian Hogg made a strong challenge on Maciu Duna­damu inside the box.
The defending champions were spurred into life and found the breakthrough on 49 minutes when Exposito made up for his earlier miss, curling a delightful shot around the out-stretched Kalai from the edge of the area.
The match was evenly poised heading into the final 20 minutes but a mistake by Hekari substitute Ian Yanum let in Emiliano Tade who took his chance well from 25 yards.
Coach Jerry Allen was left to ponder what might have been.
“I think we were close to getting a penalty and that would have put us right back in it,” Allen said.
“But overall I’m happy with the performance, and I’m confident we can win the return match back in Port Moresby next year.”
Hekari host Koloale on Dec 3 while City and Amicale will play on Jan 18 to allow Tribulietx’s side to focus on the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan next month.