Auckland FC moved five points clear at the top of the Isuzu UTE A-League after a late winner from Louis Verstraete earned them a 2-1 win over Macarthur Bulls.
A lively start saw the Black Knights bag the opening goal in just the 10th minute as Neyder Moreno stabbed home Max Mata’s flick-on to score his fifth goal of the season.
Macarthur restored parity in the 19th minute when midfielder Jake Hollman converted from close range after goalkeeper Alex Paulsen could only parry a Valere Germain headed effort.
Both sides had good chances to re-take the lead but it was the home side who eventually did so in the 80th minute as midfielder Verstraete headed home from a free-kick to make it 2-1.
The result sends the Black Knights five points clear at the top of the table ahead of Adelaide United’s clash with Sydney FC.
As for Macarthur, defeat for Mile Sterjovski’s side is their sixth of the campaign and could see them drop down to fifth on the ladder by the end of the round.
Renowned for bagging late winners for his side, Moreno came up with the goods in just the 10th minute as he registered Auckland FC’s second-earliest goal of the campaign.
A long throw into the box from Hiroki Sakai was flicked on by Mata and then prodded towards goal by Moreno, with Bulls defender Keeley Adamson unable to clear on the line.
Macarthur then had claims for a penalty waved away in the 18th minute with VAR ultimately deciding there was nothing to see despite Moreno appearing to trip Chris Ikonomidis inside the box.
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However that decision proved to be irrelevant as the Bulls bagged the leveller less than a minute later.
Running on to a whipped ball into the box, Germain’s flicked header was well saved by Paulsen at close range but there was nothing the keeper could do to prevent Hollman from slotting the rebound into the back of the net.
In a further blow to the Black Knights, defender Nando Pijnaker was forced to leave the field after rolling his ankle in the build-up to the goal and looked to be in some pain as he hobbled around the side of the pitch.
Both sides battled for superiority before the break but it was the home side who had the best chances to re-take the lead and both came from the head of Guillermo May.
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In the lead-up to half-time, May’s diving header was well saved by Filip Kurto before the Uruguayan forward then wasted a glorious chance as he headed over from close range before the break.
Moreno came close to bagging his second of the game in the 56th minute but his close-range effort was well blocked by Bulls defender Josh Damevski.
In similar fashion to Moreno, Hollman then threatened to add his second of the game but his effort from inside the box was thwarted by the sliding block of Tommy Smith.
The away side then went close again, this time through Chris Ikonomidis, however the forward curled his effort wide of the far post before being replaced by towering centre forward Harrison Sawyer.
Looking to make an immediate impact, Sawyer soon forced Paulsen into a save as he leapt highest at a corner to glance a header towards goal.
In an attempt to turn the game in their favour, Auckland boss Corica made a triple change in the 72nd minute introducing Felipe Gallegos, Marlee Francois and Jesse Randall into the game but it was one of their unsung heroes who made the breakthrough.
So reliable all season with his set-piece delivery, full-back Francis De Vries whipped a dangerous ball into the box and onto the head of Verstraete who nodded the ball beyond Kurto and into the back of the net.
The midfielder’s first Isuzu UTE A-League goal proved to be enough to help the Black Knights seal their 10th win of the season to send them five points clear at the top.
