A-League Live Updates: Wellington Phoenix vs Auckland FC
Auckland FC overcame adversity to defeat Wellington Phoenix 2-1 at Sky Stadium on Saturday night, securing their fourth consecutive win in the NZ A-League derby despite being reduced to nine men.
Early Goals Set the Tone
The visitors stunned the home fans within 28 seconds when Jesse Randall's blistering run split the Phoenix defense. His low cross found Sam Cosgrove, who confidently finished from close range.
Wellington responded quickly through their striker Ifeanyi Eze, who expertly curled a long-range equalizer after capitalizing on a loose pass from Jake Brimmer.
Auckland Regains the Lead
Randall once again exposed Wellington's high defensive line, sprinting behind the defense and chipping the ball over keeper Josh Oluwayemi to restore Auckland FC's lead. It remains unclear if the finishing touch came from Cosgrove.
Second Half Drama and Red Cards
- Auckland's centerback Dan Hall was sent off after denying a clear scoring chance by fouling substitute Corban Piper.
- Logan Rogerson quickly followed with a second red card for a reckless challenge.
- Despite the pressure and the loss of captain Jake Brimmer to a dislocated shoulder, Auckland held firm with nine players.
"Auckland weathered the storm, holding their lead against Wellington’s intense pressure despite being two men down," the match summary noted.
Wellington's valiant efforts were not enough to break down their resilient opponents as Auckland secured a hard-fought victory.
Author's Summary
Auckland FC demonstrated incredible resilience by holding out with nine players to claim a 2-1 win over Wellington Phoenix, marking their fourth straight derby victory.