Auckland FC has broken more records as they continued their perfect start to the A-League season with a 2-1 win over the Wellington Phoenix.
In front of a record New Zealand Derby crowd of 26,253 – apparently beating the historic attendance at last month’s inaugural derby by just one, newcomers Auckland made it six wins from six games thanks to an Isaac Hughes own goal and Nando Pijnaker’s header.
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The hosts conceded a goal for the first time this season in the 82nd minute but Auckland still won their second consecutive derby in front of a raucous crowd.
They are now five points clear atop the standings, eight points clear of fifth-placed Wellington.
There was an electric atmosphere and ferocious intensity from the first whistle in a half that saw Auckland tally 11 shots to just two from the Phoenix.
After Belgian star Louis Verstraete succumbed to injury in an early blow the home side broke another record in the 25th minute – eclipsing the 1986 Preston Lions for the longest time without conceding a goal to start a season in Australian men’s national league history.
Auckland goalkeeper Alex Paulsen was in the wars during the opening half after going down on three occasions before Auckland hit the front just past the half-hour mark.
An own goal was Auckland’s best friend as Hiroki Sakai’s cross found the back of the net after Wellington defender Isaac Hughes headed the ball the wrong way.
Wellington made a fast start to the second half, with a couple of early opportunities – Hideki Ishige’s curled effort sailed just over the crossbar.
The Phoenix continued to push forward in search of an equaliser but they lacked conviction and they came unstock 20 minutes from the end when Auckland doubled their lead.
Josh Oluwayemi’s miscalculation proved costly as Auckland defender Nando Pijnaker headed home Auckland’s second goal after the Phoenix goalkeeper looked to come out to collect a cross before retreating.
Wellington should have pulled a goal back three minutes later but Sam Sutton’s shot was kept out by Paulsen, while Kosta Barbarouses had a goal at his mercy but the rebound went straight to the Auckland shot-stopper.
Tempers threatened to boil over when Rufer kicked Luis Toomey while he laid on the ground with the ball underneath him, with the Phoenix captain shown a yellow card.
Auckland’s defence was finally breached seven minutes from the end when Rufer released Barbarouses the veteran forward finished emphatically to setup a grand-stand finish.
Despite the card the Nix kept attacking and proved they're not out of step with their big-city rivals, but couldn't find the equaliser.