Auckland FC extended their lead at the top of the Isuzu UTE A-League table to four points with a 4-1 win over Central Coast Mariners at Industree Group Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Black Knights suffered their first defeat in club history in Round 9 but returned to winning ways in style, scoring three first-half goals against the Mariners to take a 3-1 lead to half-time.
Auckland captain Hiroki Sakai and Mariners midfielder Alfie McCalmont both scored their first Isuzu UTE A-League goals in the first 15 minutes before a superb Jake Brimmer volley put the visitors back in front. Guillermo May made it 3-1 before half-time – a lead Auckland held until the 84th minute when Logan Rogerson extended the margin to three goals and confirmed a 4-1 win to the visitors.
Saturday’s defeat was the Mariners’ third loss of the season in a continuation of an inconsistent campaign to date for the reigning Champions. Auckland, meanwhile, have pulled four points clear at the top of the table – although that lead could be reduced to just two by the end of Saturday’s Isuzu UTE A-League action if Melbourne Victory defeat Sydney FC away from home in the Big Blue (kick-off 7.35pm AEDT).
‘SPECTACULAR!’ Barbarouses scores 99th A-Leagues goal from the centre circle
Both sides scored in an entertaining opening 15 minutes at Industree Group Stadium, but it was the league leaders who struck first as Auckland captain Hiroki Sakai bagged his first Isuzu UTE A-League goal with a headed finish at the end of a neat team move.
BUY TICKETS TO ROUND 10 OF THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE!
Three minutes after Auckland’s opener, the reigning Champions struck back and this time, it was Mariners midfielder Alfie McCalmont who opened his Isuzu UTE A-League account with a heavily deflected shot from the edge of the box that left keeper Alex Paulsen planted to the spot as the ball rattled into the back of the net.
FIVE-GOAL THRILLER: Three-goal Wanderers comeback ends Adelaide’s unbeaten run
BULLS DELIGHT: Macarthur cruise to routine win as Glory count the injury cost in latest home defeat
An exhilarating first half took another twist on the half-hour mark when Brimmer put the visitors back on top in Gosford.
The Mariners had won the ball off Liam Gillion deep in defence but an attempted clearance was blocked out by the Black Knights.
Gillion regained possession and picked out Brimmer on the edge of the box who took one touch to control and poked a volley off the outside of his boot and into the back of the net.
BUY TICKETS TO ROUND 10 OF THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE!
Eight minutes later, Auckland extended their lead to two goals and it was Guillermo May who added the Black Knights’ third goal of the first half onto the scoresheet.
Francis De Vries supplied the delivery off the left wing and his cross evaded both Brimmer and his marker Nathan Paull at the front post. Mariners keeper Dylan Perraic-Cullen got a touch on the ball but failed to gather possession as May strolled in for a simple finish.
STAJCIC SEND-OFF: Wanderers coach’s response to Adelaide red card
As the second half neared its conclusion, Auckland added one last goal to the scoreboard when Max Mata picked out Rogerson with a cross to the back post. The New Zealand international latched onto the delivery with a controlled volley to confirm a 4-1 win to the visitors.
