Auckland City effortlessly won their opening pool game at the OFC Champions League tournament, beating reigning champions Hienghène Sport 5-0 at Ngahue Reserve in Auckland.
The result was never in doubt from the moment Adam Mitchell headed the Navy Blues into a seventh-minute lead from a set piece.
Skipper Cam Howieson doubled the lead in the 17th minute when he latched onto a long through ball and calmly slotted it past the ‘keeper.
Dylan Manickum took advantage of some poor defending late in the first half to extend Auckland’s lead to 3-0, which they held at half-time.
In the second spell, a header from Mario Ilich in the 49th minute made it 4-0.
City coach Albert Riera made a triple substitution in the 56th minute, resting goalscorers Mitchell, Howieson and Manickum.
The side were content to let the clock run down, avoiding the temptation to burn excess energy ahead of their next game which is only three days away.
But there was still time for one more goal when Liam Gillion finished a move from close range.
Photo: City skipper Cam Howieson puts his side 2-0 up in the first half.
Match replay
Click on the following link to watch the full match:
Results
Group B
Games played Friday August 5, 2022
Auckland City 5 (Adam Mitchell 7′, Cam Howieson 14′, Dylan Manickum 39′, Mario Ilich 49′, Liam Gillion 88′)
Hienghène Sport 0
Rewa 3 (Abbu Zahid 2’, 56’, Tevita Waranaivalu 45+3’)
Nikao Sokattak 1 (Mark Leito 78′)
Standings
Group A
Games played Thursday August 4, 2022
Central Coast FC 0
AS Vénus 3 (Teaouni Tehau 12’, 16’ pen, 46’)
Galaxy FC 2 (Own goal 28‘, Kensi Tangis 46’)
Lae City FC 2 (Own goal 34‘, Jonathan Allen 73’)
Standings
Tournament schedule
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