Auckland v Wellington Phoenix result: Men’s A-League round three

And it was amazing: a huge crowd of 26,252 people gathered at the Sky Stadium. It marked the largest turnout for a regular-season game in Phoenix history, beating the 2021 Covid homecoming game by nearly 3,000.

Auckland now have something to boast about – at least until the next derby in December – after a clinical 2-0 win.

Two late goals from Jake Brimmer proved the difference in a match that looked headed for a 0-0 draw.

The decisive moment came in the 89th minute thanks to a terrible error by Phoenix goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi.

While all the attention was on Alex Paulsen before the match, it was Phoenix’s new goalie who proved the villain in a moment of madness, making a short pass straight to Brimmer, who finished with aplomb.

The former Melbourne Victory player then converted a fast break in stoppage time with Wellington chasing the game.

The result will be painful for Phoenix. Although Auckland dominated in most key statistics – including possession, territory and shots on goal – the men in yellow probably had the clearest chance until Brimmer’s gift.

Costa Barbarouses should have done better with a first-half volley, while Japanese import Hideki Ishige headed home from meters out to score midway through the second half, although it was a difficult chance.

But Auckland, which will remain top of the table, is building something special. They handled the situation well – in their first away match – dictating the match for most of the match and finishing strongly.

Auckland’s first goal may have been lucky, but it was also a reward for the high pressing they maintained throughout the match.

Before the game, Paulsen wasn’t sure what kind of reception he’d get, but it wasn’t a friendly one: there were hearty cheers every time he got close to the ball. It was always going to be spicy, with nine All Whites in two teams, Aucklanders in the Phoenix team and all sorts of personal rivalries.

Phoenix captain Alex Rufer was included in the squad – after an injury scare marred the week – while Cameron Howieson was again given the nod ahead of Brimmer.

The occasion lived up to everything it promised, with a vocal contingent of Auckland fans making their presence known in the sea of ​​yellow. The game was tense and physical from the start, with a couple of serious fouls in the first three minutes. Louis Verstraete left the boot before Rufer responded in kind.

Auckland were quicker to settle in and their press caused problems, although Wellington were determined to see it through.

The Barbarians should have done better with the rare opportunity to fire their half-volley straight at Paulsen after clever work from Tim Paine and Ishige. Liam Gillion had the visitors’ best chance of the half, forcing Oluwayemi into two strong goals, while Guillermo May and Logan Rogerson also had chances in the box.

Wellington looked dangerous on the counter-attack – missing only the last chance of quality – but Auckland looked more likely throughout the half, helped by the strong wind at their backs.

There was a lengthy stoppage early in the second half following a violent clash of heads between Scott Wootton and May, although both continued to play.

Wellington should have broken the deadlock just before the hour, but Ishige’s diving header – from just a few meters away – bounced into the ground and over the crossbar, with Paulsen beaten after dynamic intervention from Rufer, who won the ball and then drove towards the crossbar. signature.

Wootton’s well-timed clearance cleared the danger as May lurked before Ishige came close again with the ball squared just behind him after Phoenix’s lightning counter-attack.

The game finally started in the last 15 minutes and the action continued from start to finish before Oluwayemi gave the gift. The Englishman, who replaced Paulsen in the off-season, passed directly to substitute Brimmer, who controlled the ball well before chipping it past the desperate goalkeeper. It was a strange decision by Oluwayemi, who had simpler options on the flank.

Brimmer then rubbed salt into the wound after Louis Twomey took the lead at half-time before the entire Auckland team celebrated wildly in front of the traveling fans.

Auckland FC 2 (Jake Brimmer 89′, 90+6′)

Wellington Phoenix 0

Break 0-0