De Vries' 'special' A-League Finals performance: 'He was faultless'

Auckland FC full-back Francis De Vries’ standout performance in Saturday’s Semi-Final win over Melbourne Victory earned widespread acclaim, with his “special” attacking attributes and “faultless” defensive work helping his side claim a slender advantage in the tie.

Network 10 analyst Grace Gill put it perfectly when assessing the rise of Auckland left-back Francis De Vries, after his Semi-Final showing at AAMI Park on Saturday night.

“He’s a player who may have been little known coming into the season,” Gill said post-game.

“Rest assured now, that player is on a few coaches’ scouting books because what an addition he has been to our league.”

De Vries was immense for the Black Knights in his first-ever Isuzu UTE A-League Finals Series game, in a continuation of a recurring storyline for the All Whites defender this season.

GET YOUR TICKETS TO LEG TWO OF AUCKLAND v VICTORY ON SATURDAY, MAY 24

MATCH REPORT: Advantage Auckland in Semi-Final tie as All Whites combine to down Victory in the wet

Having arrived at the league’s newest club to little fanfare, among a star-studded squad assembled by head coach Steve Corica, De Vries has been impossible to ignore from the first round of the season, using his expertise in both defence and attack to become one of the most important contributors to Auckland’s Premiership-winning campaign.

On Saturday night, De Vries notched his eighth assist of the season – and in typical De Vries fashion, too.

A cross off the left wing, delivered perfectly into free space, invited right winger Logan Rogerson to pounce and win the game for the Black Knights.

It was De Vries’ third assist for a Rogerson goal through season 2024-25; the combination between Auckland’s left-back and right winger delivered once again, to give Auckland a 1-0 aggregate lead heading into the second leg of the Semi-Final tie on Saturday, May 24 at Go Media Stadium.

GET YOUR TICKETS TO LEG TWO OF AUCKLAND v VICTORY ON SATURDAY, MAY 24

De Vries added three interceptions, two clearances, one tackle and 10 final third entries to his assist and contribution to Auckland’s clean sheet on Saturday night. Only Victory midfielder Ryan Teague had more final third entries (13) on the night.

As solid as they come in defence, and lethal in the final third, Auckland’s assist machine enhanced his burgeoning reputation with the latest in a string of formidable performances – this time, on the Finals Series stage.

“Defensively, he was faultless, tick that one off,” Gill added. “But then it’s what he provides in attack that makes him so special.

“Question marks around the defence – (but) not the ball. It’s a stooping header, but it has to drop into a dangerous place and it’s something that De Vries has done all season.”

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“When you look at that replay, it’s almost like he doesn’t even look where to place that ball,” added Victory legend Archie Thompson.

“It’s almost muscle memory that he can deliver into a really great area… I think De Vries has just been excellent. He’s superb. Unbelievable. He just puts it into an area, it doesn’t seem to be many balls that are too straight or over-hit. It’s always on a dime.”

Together with club captain Hiroki Sakai, centre-back partners Nando Pijnaker and Dan Hall and goalkeeper Alex Paulsen, De Vries contributed to Auckland’s 13th clean sheet of the season in wet conditions at AAMI Park, as the Black Knights’ defensive line kept Victory scoreless, and without a shot on target.

The age-old saying that defence wins Championships is the bedrock on which head coach Steve Corica built this Premiership-winning side.

Victory possess a star-studded attacking unit, headlined by Socceroos duo Daniel Arzani and Nishan Velupillay, but through their three meetings with Auckland this season, Arthur Diles’ side have failed to score a single goal.

Diles will need to find a way to unpick the steadfast Auckland defence to give Victory a chance of overturning their one-goal Semi-Final deficit and progress to the Grand Final.

“I love what the defenders did,” Thompson said, in praise of Auckland’s inpenetrable defensive display.

“Because they had to weather a storm – and they did – and then they got on top. You could see when, early on, Arzani and Velupillay, when they got the ball they were facing forward.

“Once they nullified that, it was very hard for them to get the ball. It was almost like when they received it, they were facing away from goal and couldn’t seem to go at speed. They did that really well.”

The Ninja A-League Grand Final kicks off TOMORROW!

Melbourne Victory host Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park in the Ninja A-League Women title decider on Sunday, May 18.

Catch up with all the pre-game build-up below, as well as everything you need to know before kick-off, including broadcast and ticket details.

How to watch?

The Ninja A-League 2025 Grand Final will be shown live on 10 Bold from 2:30pm AEST on Sunday May 18 and available to stream across 10 Play and Paramount+.

For New Zealand viewers, every match of the Ninja A-League Finals Series is available live on Sky Sport and streamed on Sky Sport Now.

Keep up to date with everything you need to know ahead of the Ninja A-League Grand Final by following the A-Leagues on social media:

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