Auckland FC claimed a dramatic late victory over South Melbourne FC in a top-of-the-table clash.
South Melbourne were without several key players from the outset, and those concerns appeared well-founded when Auckland struck the net inside the opening minute. Robinson found Tade down the left, who laid the ball off for Gillion to finish calmly after just 22 seconds.
South Melbourne, however, refused to be rattled. A Painter-Andrews long throw caused chaos at the back post, where Mesourouni brought the ball down before converting to level matters inside ten minutes. Then they took the lead before the half-hour mark.
Auckland came out in the second half reinvigorated, with Tade volleying narrowly wide. As the game wore on, Auckland’s depth began to tell, and Matt Ellis drew them level with a thunderous finish into the top corner from the right.
The tie then swung decisively Auckland’s way when Leech was shown a second yellow card for cynically halting a counter-attack, and they made the extra man count. Robinson’s clipped ball over the top found Den Heijer, who unselfishly squared for substitute Ronan Wynne to roll into an empty net.
Auckland FC saw out the win with little fuss, extending their lead at the summit, while South Melbourne will find themselves glancing nervously over their shoulders at the chasing pack.
Player of the Match:Â Matt Ellis
OFC Player of the Match:Â Matt Ellis
