Auckland FC have closed the gap at the top of the Isuzu UTE A-League to just one point as they beat Newcastle 2-1 at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Jesse Randall and Sam Cosgrove caused the league leaders all sorts of problems and linked up to give the visitors an early lead. Clayton Taylor pulled one back but Cosgrove struck again to deal the Jets their first defeat since Boxing Day.
The win closes the gap at the top to just one point. Newcastle and Auckland will face the same five teams in their remaining games as the race for the premiership heats up.
The hosts almost enjoyed a fairytale start when Clayton Taylor surged forward and whipped in a teasing ball that just beat the studs of Lachie Rose and Eli Adams couldn’t sweep it home at the back post.
Auckland struck back with a scare of their own when Logan Rogerson unleashed from outside the area and forced a fine, diving save from James Delianov. The visiting keeper was called into action again when Francis de Vries tested him with a strong shot from a deep free-kick.
The visitors found their way through after 15 minutes when Jesse Randall sped down the left wing and saw his low cross bundled in by Sam Cosgrove, the New Zealander moving to six assists for the season.
Just shy of the half-hour mark the hosts responded with a cleverly worked free kick that saw Daniel Wilmering turn the ball through for the onrushing Taylor, who opened up his hips and slid the ball past Michael Woud.
Auckland nearly struck back when, after a flick-on from a long throw, Guillermo May slapped his volley against the crossbar.
Randall created a great chance immediately after the break when he stood up Adams and lofted the ball onto the head of Dan Hall who put it over the bar from close range.
They had an even better chance in the 48th minute when Randall broke down the left once again and squared the ball right into the path of Cosgrove who fluffed his lines before Rogerson’s follow-up was well saved by Delianov.
Auckland finally found the back of the net when Randall found the overlapping run of de Vries and he placed the ball right onto the unmarked head of Cosgrove, who tucked home his 10th goal of the season and went to the top of the A-League goalscorers rankings. Randall searched for a goal of his own and his shot smacked the crossbar a few moments later.
The Jets came within inches of an equaliser at the hour mark when Will Dobson’s cross was bravely flicked by Jake Girdwood-Reich, and only just beat the arriving run of Rose.
The best chance for the Jets to equalise came with ten minutes to play when Adams had time and space inside the box but sliced his volley wide. The home side rallied and threw everything at their premiership rivals but couldn’t convert any of their scrambling attacks and had their unbeaten streak end after 10 matches.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT THEY SAID
Jesse Randall
