HENDERSON – Wellington Phoenix has cruised to an easy 7-0 win in the Cue Sport Challenge friendly match with O-League champions Waitakere United at Trusts Stadium this afternoon. United showed signs of early season rustiness as the battle-hardened Phoenix made lightwork of the home side in a suprisingly subdued first half.

Both coaches have named understrength sides for the match with Waitakere resting Danny Hay and Neil Emblen while Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert has benched ace goalscorer Shane Smeltz, Lei Lei Gao and veteran striker Vaughan Coveney.

Adam Kwasnik struck twice on 13 minutes and 34 minutes before Jeremy Christie chimed in on 40 minutes with the third. Waitakere United struggled to make an impression but went close in the 9th minute when Adriano Pimenta forced a good save from Phoenix goalkeeper Glen Moss. 

Manny Muscat forced a great save from substitute goalkeeper Richard Gillespie on 55 minutes when his rasping right foot drive saw Gillespie parry low to his right. But Gillespie had no hope when Jeremy Christie struck a superb 30 metre shot into the top left hand corner of the net ten minutes later. 

Waitakere rarely made a positive impression going forward against a Phoenix outfit too slick in attack and too sharp mentally. The normally dangerous attacking threat posed by Benjamin Totori was nullified by the experienced Wellington defence marshalled by Karl Dodd.

Paul Seaman had Waitakere United’s best chance to score but the Welsh midfielder fired his long range effort just over the crossbar. Totori manufactured a similar opportunity shortly after but dragged his shot well wide of Glen Moss’s goal.

The situation got worse for the O-League champions on 77 minutes when Aaron Scott was sent off for a sturdy challenge on Costa Barbarouses. However, Referee Michael Hester allowed Waitakere United to continue with eleven players for what little good it did.

Just a minute later Greg Draper punished Waitakere when he hit a left foot shot past a stranded Gillespie with the United defence in disarray. Wellington Phoenix added a sixth on 81 minutes when Greg Draper slotted home from what appeared to be a clear offside position. Vaughan Coveney increased the pain for the home side with a tidy left foot finish from close range on 83 minutes. 

Waitakere United nearly scored with minutes remaining after Benjamin Totori sent Kayne Vincent clear of the Phoenix defence. Vincent rounded Paston before shooting at an empty net only for Manny Muscat to make a desperate attempt to hook the ball of the line.

Benjamin Totori chases a loose ball as Jeremy Christie and Jake Butler watch on

Phoenix striker Adam Kwasnik shields the ball from Waitakere United’s Ian Hogg

The Cue Sports Foundation Challenge

Waitakere United [NZL](0) 0

Wellington Phoenix [AUS](3) 7 (Adam KWASNIK 13′, 34′, Jeremy CHRISTIE 40′, 65′, Greg DRAPER 78′, 81′, Vaughan COVENEY 83′)

Trusts Stadium

Henderson

New Zealand

Saturday 15 November 2008

Kick-off: 16h00

Attendance: 2500.

WAI: 22. Danny ROBINSON [gk] (1. Richard GILLESPIE 46′); 2. Jonathan PERRY; 3. Aaron SCOTT; 4. Timothy MYERS; 9. Benjamin TOTORI (26. Jonathan KEY 87′); 10. Allan PEARCE (7. Daniel ELLENSOHN 72′); 13. Daniel KOPRIVCIC (21. Kayne VINCENT 59′); 15. Christopher BALE; 17. Jake BUTLER (23. Cory HITCHEN 87′); 18. Ian HOGG (14. Jeff CAMPBELL 68′); 29. Adriano PIMENTA (8. Paul SEAMAN 54′).

Substitutes Not Used: 24. Ash SOLLY.

Yellow Cards: 18. Ian HOGG 57′; 8. Paul SEAMAN 64′.

Red Cards: 3. Aaron SCOTT 77′.

Coach: Chris MILICICH (NZL)

WGN: 2. Jeremy CHRISTIE; 5. Karl DODD; 7. Leo BERTOS (23. Costa BARBAROUSES 62′); 11. Daniel CORTES; 12. Richard JOHNSON (4. Jon McKAIN 62′); 13. Troy HEARFIELD (19. Greg DRAPER 46′); 15. Adam KWASNIK (8. Vaughan COVENEY 74′); 16. David MULLIGAN; 20. Glen MOSS [gk] (1. Mark PASTON [rgk]80′); 22. Andrew DURANTE (18. Ben SIGMUND 74′); 25. Manny MUSCAT.

Subtitutes Not Used: 3. Tony LOCHHEAD; 9. Shane SMELTZ; 21. Lei Lei GEO.

Yellow Cards: 13. Troy HEARFIELD 18′.

Red Cards: None

Coach: Ricki HERBERT (NZL)

Referee: Michael HESTER (NZL)

Assistant Referee 1: Jan HINTZ (NZL)

Assistant Referee 2: Nick VAN DER SALM (NZL)

Fourth official: Jamie CROSS (NZL)