Auckland FC captain and Japan international Hiroki Sakai succumbed to a hamstring injury as the Black Knights beat Adelaide United 2-1 at Go Media Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The reigning Premiers took a one-goal lead in the first half as towering English striker Sam Cosgrove bagged his first Auckland goal, before CommBank Young Socceroo Luka Jovanovic levelled the score on the cusp of half-time for the Reds.
For all goals, highlights and key stats, head to the match centre
Adelaide had chances to take the lead in the second half but instead it was Auckland who emerged victorious through midfielder Louis Verstraete’s 79th-minute strike. The Belgian found the back of the net after Jesse Randall spurned a glorious opportunity of his own, dispatching his unmarked header from close range off the post and into Verstraete’s path to finish.
The three points earned against the Reds helped Auckland up to top spot on the Isuzu UTE A-League table, with seven points earned from three games (two wins, one draws) to begin the season. But, with the first New Zealand Derby of 2025-26 to come in Round 4, Auckland could be without star defender and captain Hiroki Sakai, who succumbed to a hamstring injury in the first half of Saturday’s Round 3 fixture.
