Wanderers thrashed as Navy Blues go top
HAMILTON, New Zealand - Auckland City FC are back at the top of the Stirling Sports Premiership after thrashing Hamilton Wanderers 5-0 at Porritt Stadium tonight.
The Navy Blues, who beat Wellington Phoenix U-20 2-0 on Sunday, should have won by a far bigger margin but that squandering of bountiful chances ended in a blaze of goals in the Waikato.
Joao Moreira opened the scoring in the opening minute with a well-taken goal before Emiliano Tade doubled the lead on 24 minutes.
Ryan De Vries, who had a torrid time versus the Phoenix youngsters, helped himself to the Navy Blues third goal eight minutes before the break and Moreira notched his second shortly after.
Tade got in on the act once more when he scored from a free-kick midway through the second half.
The Navy Blues leapfrog Team Wellington, Eastern Suburbs AFC and Waitakere United into top spot with a game in hand by virtue of their superior goal difference, boosted by this latest goal glut.
With the Navy Blues facing Hamilton Wanderers again in four days time and will likely present the Mark Cossey-coached side with an even tougher challenge given Kiwitea Street is the venue.
The opportunity to pile pressure on the chasing pack and put the minor premiership out of their reach will not be lost on coach Ramon Tribulietx although a win in next Wednesday's showdown with Southern United at Kiwitea Street cannot be assumed.
Hamilton Wanderers remain firmly gridlocked in a struggle with the other bottom four sides in the Wellington Phoenix U-20, Tasman United and Southern United, who have two games in hand.
The next match pits Auckland City FC against Hamiton Wanderers on Sunday 19 February 2017 at Kiwitea Street.
The match kicks off at 4.35pm and is live on Sky Sport.
Ends
Match Result
Stirling Sports Premiership
Wednesday 15 February 2017
Hamilton Wanderers 0
Auckland City FC 5 (Joao Moreira 2', 40', Emiliano Tade 24', 73', Ryan De Vries 37')
Halftime: 0-4.
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Table
| Position | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | AC | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 15 |
| 2 |  | WS | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 12 |
| 3 |  | BU | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 9 |
| 4 |  | BO | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 9 |
| 5 |  | MN | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 7 |
| 6 |  | AU | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 6 |
| 7 |  | ES | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 6 |
| 8 |  | TC | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 3 |
| 9 |  | MU | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 3 |
| 10 |  | WR | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 2 |
| 11 |  | HW | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 1 |
| 12 |  | EB | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 0 |
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