Western United have etched their name in the history books, becoming the first team to beat Auckland FC in the Isuzu UTE A-League after routing the record-breakers 4-0 in a statement performance.
Setup by a breath-taking three-goal first half, visiting Western United handed high-flying newcomers Auckland their first loss in the A-Leagues on Saturday while earning an early Christmas present.
Riku Danzaki, Noah Botic and Hiroshi Ibusuki struck in the first half, while Matt Grimaldi found the back of the net in the closing stages of a result described as a “dismantling” by the Sky Sport New Zealand commentators, who also labelled it as “the Grinch that stole Auckland’s Christmas”.
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The result continued Western’s red-hot form after backing up their stunning 4-3 triumph away to Sydney FC with an incredible victory on the road at Go Media Stadium in Round 9.
Western, who have now scored 10 goals in their past three away fixtures having scored 18 in their previous 15, provisionally climb up to fifth in the table – seven points behind leaders Auckland FC through nine rounds. The Black Knights could end the weekend second in the standings depending on the result of the Melbourne Derby.
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Western, who scored four or more goals in back-to-back away games in the A-Leagues for the first time in their history and just for the second time home or away since February 2021 – were a threat from the outset and hit the front in the 16th minute.
After receiving a penalty for a handball inside the box, Riku Danzaki stepped up to convert the spot-kick as Auckland found themselves behind for the first time on home soil at Go Media Stadium.
There was disbelief eight minutes later when Western netted another through Noah Botic. Hiroshi Ibusuki desperately got a shot off to force a save from Auckland goalkeeper Alex Paulsen but Botic was on hand to fire home the rebound – his third goal in four games.
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Tomoki Imai nearly made it 3-0 two minutes later, while Western goalkeeper Matt Sutton was called into action for the first time and he was up to the task to keep out Guillermo May’s long-range attempt.
Then in the 34th minute, Ibusuki scored Western’s third goal and his fourth of the season. Their ruthless and efficient football shocked the home side as the Japanese forward timed his run to perfection, getting in behind and slotting the ball beyond Paulsen.
Though it was not without controversy as Auckland protested that referee Casey Reibelt interfered earlier in the sequence of play, having appeared to inadvertently block Jake Brimmer.
It could have been 4-0 at half-time, if not for the woodwork, after Angus Thurgate’s thunderous volley cannoned off the crossbar.
A fingertip save from Sutton kept a rallying Auckland at bay nine minutes into the second half, and the Western keeper came up big again moments later.
Chances started to build for Auckland but they could not find a way past Sutton and Western, who kept their second clean sheet of the campaign as Grimaldi came off the bench to put the cherry on top of an incredible display.
