Auckand FC celebrate Premiers title with win
- Dave Worsley
- 15 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Auckland FC celebrated becoming League Premiers in their inaugural season by defeating Perth Glory 1-0 thanks to a stunner from Marlee Francois.
On an afternoon where Perth keeper Oli Sail pulled of a string of top-class saves he was eventually undone in the 62nd minute, sparking wild scenes on a celebratory day at Go Media Stadium.
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The new Premiers eventually found the opener, with Francois curling a right-footed effort over the keeper and into the back of the net direct from a corner in front of 24,221 delighted spectators.
Finishing 1-0 on the day, Auckland moved to 53 points in their maiden season after a result which also extends their unbeaten run to 14 matches.
Having already wrapped up the Premiership with two games to go thanks to Melbourne City’s failure to defeat Adelaide United, Steve Corica’s side were then presented with their trophy at full-time in what they hope will be the first part of an historic double this season.
It took ust three minutes to fashion the first chance of the game as striker Max Mata drilled a low shot wide of the target after Perth keeper Oli Sail failed to properly deal with a cross into the box.
Winger Francois then raced in behind the Glory backline and picked out Logan Rogerson less than 90-seconds later but his fellow attacker blazed his shot over the bar.
Despite their goal being under siege though it was Perth Glory who almost bagged the game’s opening goal in the 12th minute.
Collecting the ball in midfield, former Tottenham Hotspur youth product Luke Amos brilliantly played captain Adam Taggart in on goal but the Socceroo just couldn’t get enough on the ball to toe it past the on-rushing Alex Paulsen.
Still the dominate team though, Auckland went close in the 22nd minute as an unmarked Mata headed wide of the near post after he was brilliantly picked out inside the box by Guillermo May.
The chances kept on coming as May then saw his right-footed shot deflected wide of the target in the 26th minute before Francois’ dipping half-volley then bounced wide of the target two minutes after that.
Cranking up the pressure before half-time, Auckland FC’s best chance of the opening 45 fell to Mata, and he would have scored had it not been for a stunning piece of goalkeeping.
Drifting into space on the left hand side of the box, Francois played the perfect cutback into the path of the arriving Mata, however the striker’s powerful shot was somehow tipped over the bar by thanks to a stunning reflex save by Sail.
Not done there, Mata then glanced a header agonisingly wide of the far post before the half was out as Corica’s Premiership winners headed back to the dressing rooms in complete control of the contest.
Continuing the theme of the first-half, Perth keeper Sail was seemingly in inspired form whilst playing back in his home city as he thwarted winger Francois from close range in the 60th minute.
However the breakthrough eventually came just two minutes later and for all of Sail’s good work prior to the 62nd minute, the keeper was left red-faced by Francois from a set-piece.
Whipping a right-footed in-swinging corner into the box, Sail could only watch as Francois’ delivery sailed over his head and into the back of the net after kissing the post on it’s way in to make it 1-0.
Looking to put the icing on the cake, substitute Liam Gillion headed wide of the target in the 83rd minute.
Perth then threatened to somewhat spoil the party a minute later as Taggart drilled a powerful shot into the side netting while Colombian Neyder Moreno was then inches away from making it 2-0 late on.
However the home side held on to secure their 15th win of the season as captain Hiroki Sakai lifted the Premiers Plate trophy high.