A Neyder Moreno hattrick (or was it Logan Rogerson?) saw off the Wellington Phoenix in a packed out Go Media stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The win means Auckland also completed a hattrick of their own, beating the Wellington based team three times this season. The other two games were close affairs but here Auckland saved the best for last.
Two first half goals for Moreno and a third from Logan Rogerson rendered the game over at halftime, the second half largely an exhibition match.
Head Coach Steve Corica named the same team that defeated Western United away in Melbourne last week.
There’s clearly no love lost between these two teams and from the off this game had a true derby feel to it, with Nando Pijnaker picking up an early yellow for a foul on Piper. The resulting free kick was close, but Paulsen pulled off an excellent save.
After that initially flurry forward Wellington spent most of the remaining half penned in. Auckland started to turn the screw with Francis de Vries almost scoring from a corner kick and Max Mata actually scoring, only for it to be ruled out for a push on the defender.
Moments later a de Vries corner was once again dropped onto of the ‘keeper, after a bit of penalty box pinball Moreno absolutely leathered it through a couple of players and into the back of the net.
It didn’t take long for Auckland to get their second. Five minutes after the first it was once again Moreno who capitalised on poor defending following a de Vries cross. Scoring a similar goal but this time following a slight Rogerson deflection.
Rogerson had a moment of his own minutes later. A neat header at the far post following a Gallegos cross. He barely celebrated but then at 3-0 up he didn’t need to, the game felt over as a contest and Auckland the superior team in every way.
Wellington momentarily breathed life into it by scoring on the 49th minute. Alex Paulsen had initially saved well but the rebounded was netted by Brooke-Smith.
The away fans suddenly had something to cheer about. It didn’t last long. On 60 minutes Neyder Moreno scored a third for range, a hattrick for the Colombian and the first ever Auckland FC hattrick.
Logan Rogerson put the icing on the cake on 80 minutes, scoring his second and Aukland’s fifth with probably the best goal of the game. A powerful strike from the edge of the area. And just when you thought things couldn’t get any better, substitute Jessie Randall scored Auckland’s sixth and his first ever goal for the club in the 93rd minute.
Auckland now go into next week’s game against second place Adelaide eight points clear at the top of the A-League ladder.
Player of the Match: Neyder Moreno
Next game: March 1, home to Adelaide United.
Next home game at Go Media: A top of the table blockbuster at home against Adelaide United on Saturday, March 1. Tickets for that game can be bought here.
Attendance: 27,009
Favourite non-Auckland FC shirt spotted in the crowd: AFC Richmond, with sponsor Bantr. IYKYK.
