Auckland FC played out a 2-2 draw against Perth Glory, closing the gap on the league leaders Jets to four points ahead of next week’s showdown in Newcastle.
Perth offered little going forward, preferring to defend deep with 11 men behind the ball, but still managed two well-worked goals in between a great strike from Sam Cosgrove and another good header from the Englishman that was given as an own goal.
Despite the unusual 3pm Sunday kick-off, the fans were still out in force at Go Media Stadium, capping off an excellent weekend of sport in Auckland.
Sam Cosgrove opened the scoring in the seventh minute. With his back to goal on the edge of the area, Sam spun and fired a low shot through the crowd and into the bottom left corner.
The Black Knights continued to probe with both Guillermo and Jesse coming close, and Logan firing over the bar.
On a rare foray forward, Perth reminded Auckland FC of their ever-present danger. A low corner bounced in the box, Kaltak was first to it with a diving header to level the scores in the 39th minute.
Guillermo nearly scored moments later but it wasn’t to be so the scores remained level at the break.
On 57 minutes, Glory took a surprise lead. Former Pheonix man Colakovski with the goal and then proceeding to wind up The Port, the subs and anyone else in the vicinity.
Auckland got one back less than two minutes later. Sam Cosgrove again getting on the end of a de Vries cross, the ball hitting the post and bouncing in off the back of the keeper’s boot. The goal was originally not given, flagged as a foul in the box, but it looked soft, and after a VAR intervention, common sense prevailed with the goal given, albeit as an own goal.
Auckland pushed and probed for a winner, while Perth remained a threat on the counter. After six minutes of injury time the ref blew his whistle and everything ended all-square.
Player of the Match: Sam Cosgrove
Attendance: 12,777
Next home game at Go Media: Fans will have to wait almost two weeks for our next home game, another 3pm kick-off but this time on a Saturday against Macarthur. Tickets for this and all Auckland FC games can be bought here.
Favourite non-Auckland FC shirt seen in the crowd: The yellow and black stipes of Uruguayan giants Atlético Peñarol
