Auckland FC emerged triumphant as they took down the defending champions on penalties to make it back-to-back A-League semi-finals for the club.
Dan Hall slotted home the decisive penalty in front of The Port to make it 7-6 and send fans delirious after a nervy 120 minutes of football. Michael Woud, the player of the match, having saved the previous Melbourne effort.
The first game of the A-League finals series delivered a thriller under the lights at Go Media Stadium, with both winners of silverware last season playing for a spot in next week’s semi-finals.
Guillermo May made his way back into the starting 11 after a standout two-goal performance against Sydney FC, with Sam Cosgrove, an injury doubt, dropping to the bench.
It was a cagey first half at Go Media with both sides trying to figure each other out and clear-cut chances being a rarity.
The home side were the ones to open the scoring, with Guillermo May beating the first half buzzer with a glancing header from a corner sailing past the hands of Patrick Beach in the third minute of added time.
It’s May’s third headed goal in his last two fixtures as the Black Knights held the half-time advantage, one goal to nil.
Auckland found themselves back on the front foot in the second half and were unlucky not to be two up, with a Logan Rogerson header from close range forcing a top save from Beach on 65 minutes.
Melbourne City were the team on top with twenty to go as they went in search of an equalizer to keep their season alive.
The pressure continued and eventually the Auckland defence, strengthen by the return of Nando Pijnaker, yielded. Substitute Medin Memeti poking the equalizer home in the dying moments, stunning the home crowd.
The late equalizer sent the game into a nervy period of extra time, which ended without a goal, sending the game to a penalty shootout.
Both teams scored their first five spot kicks with some top-quality penalties, including from Liam Gillion and Hiroki Sakai, neither keeper stood a chance of making a save.
Sudden death ensued and then Nathaniel Atkinson stepped up to the spot. His effort was saved by Michael Woud diving low to his right, which was met by a roar from The Port behind the goal.
Dan Hall stepped up to the spot and calmly rolled home the decisive penalty to send the Black Knights into the semi-final, capping off a wild night at Go Media Stadium
Auckland FC will host Adelaide United next week for the first leg of a two-legged semi-final, with a spot in the grand final on the line.
Man of the Match: Michael Woud
Attendance: 11,341
Next Match: Adelaide United at Go Media Stadium for the Semi-final first leg. (time and date tbd)
