Sun, Santa and sand but sadly not the three points – you can’t get everything you want at Christmas.
More than 13,000 fans turned out to Go Media to see the Black Knights suffer their first defeat of an otherwise impressive season. The 4-0 scoreline leaving many feeling cheated in a game packed full of drama and controversy.
Back in the team after a week out was number 6, Louis Verstraete and making his first start for the Black Knights was last week’s last-minute hero, Neyder Moreno.
In full voice The Port packed out the lower half of the south stand, bay 22 now happily devouring the bays either side.
The game started fairly evenly; both teams gave as good as they got with chances at either end. But it was Western United who struck first after Auckland conceded an unfortunate and rather unlucky penalty. A shot deflected off Hiroki Sakai’s boot and onto the arm of Callan Elliot. There was little the right-back could do about it. Western United striker Riku Danzaki stepped up and scored from the spot after 16 minutes, placing it high into the top left corner of Alex Paulsen’s net.
Minutes later it was 2-0 to Western United. Noah Botic volleying a loose ball into the ground and up into the net. A great, flying save by Paulsen prevented a third and Auckland found themselves with a job to do.
After 33 minutes, it was 3-0, and again Auckland can feel aggrieved. The referee impeding Jake Brimmer and preventing him from collecting the ball in midfield. Western United were then able to capitalise and surged forward, with Ibusuki firing low past Paulsen. The incident was played twice on the big screen and sent many in the press box scrambling for the rule book.
Auckland pushed and probed for a response. Moreno and Gillion both fighting hard to win possession and push the team forward, feeding May. The Uruguayan drawing a number of good saves out of the Western United goalkeeper.
The half time whistle eventually blew, the referee receiving a cacophony of boos from the home support.
The second half kicked off with a head coach Steve Corica making two changes, Scott Galloway replacing Elliot and Logan Rogerson replacing Brimmer. Seven minutes in it was time for another, Jesse Randall replacing Moreno. Randall delivered instant impact, his shot saved after good work down the left.
Auckland certainly looked more settled in the second half and started to dominate play and created several chances. After 66 minutes Max Mata came on to replace de Vries.
Western United seemed to spend much of the second half focused on slowing the game down. Auckland then had a penalty claim of their own after 79 minutes after Mata was brought down in the box the referee wasn’t interested. Against the run of the play Western United scored a fourth.
Finn McKenlay then replaced Verstraete. The team persevered, supported right to the very end by The Port, but it wasn’t enough and after three minutes of injury time the referee put an end to the game and Auckland’s seven match undefeated run.
It was a tough afternoon for the Black Knights, but they will come back stronger and learn from this defeat. Adversity is preparation for greatness.
Auckland now travel away to play Central Coast Mariners next Saturday, before returning home to face Melbourne Victory on New Years Day. The sun and sand will return for that clash and hopefully so will the victories. Tickets for that game can but purchased here.
