UNDERGROUND PUNISH LIFE-LESS UNITED
Underground FC have moved to the top of the NZCFA Super League in style with an emphatic 5-1 humbling of LIFE United at Riversdale Reserve in Avondale.
With initial fears of a cancellation cast aside, it was their yellow-and-black shirted opponents who then felt the wrath of a side who were desperate for seven points after drawing 4-4 with Karen United last week.
Any lingering memories of that match were put in the back of the net with braces to Sam Foster and Andrew Dunn as well as a goal to Long Tran who has started the season strongly.
Yet while the attacking line should receive praise, it was a combination of a hungrier defence and a well-orchastrated midfield that saw them take victory as two goals near the end of the match ensured the maximum competition points were secured.
Foster was maginificent and showed glimpses of pace not seen before on the football pitch, while Dunn was handsomely rewarded after providing the red-shirted Underground with plenty of attacking opportunities.
The match also doubled as Underground's last in the famous red strip. They will now switch to a more slick, orange-and-black number that will mark the transformation from an amateur side to an outfit who look threatening more often than not.
Tran scored the side's first goal within 10 minutes thanks to a superb pass from the typically consistent Liam Badger. The midfielder split two defenders as the ball found Tran and then the net to give the red-shirted UFC the lead.
A slight jitter saw LIFE United score through their standout forward to the frustration of goalkeeper Andy Speir.
He fared significantly better than the opposing goalkeeper, who minutes later who knocked out cold by Foster as the wing collided en route to giving Underground a 2-1 lead.
The score remained until the second half, when Dunn was able calmly find the bottom left hand corner of the goal when one-on-one with LIFE's substitute goalkeeper to increase their lead to 3-1.
A tactical switch to a traditional 4-3-3 format paid off for Underground in the last 15 minutes as they shut down the dual threats their opponents had up front while providing their own strikeforce with opportunities of their own.
The first was another beauty from Foster that came from the pressure he created upon the left defender. From there it was a simple finish for the Koromatua-bred winger.
The final goal was as much an act of folly as it was football. Dunn's lame cross baffled the LIFE defence as what looked like a tame, mis-hit kick ended up sliding through the vacant near post to give Underground it's biggest win of the season.
UFC now have a week off courtesy of the bye and will look back having securing 17 of a possible 21 points on offer from three games.
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