Melbourne Victory and Auckland FC renewed hostilities on the opening weekend of the Isuzu UTE A-League season, but there was nothing to separate the 2024-25 Semi-Finalists in a 0-0 draw at AAMI Park.
Saturday night’s bout was the latest instalment in a newly forged rivalry fuelled by the drama of last season’s two-legged post-season tie that resulted in Victory bundling Premiers and hot favourites Auckland out of Championship contention.
There were new faces on both sides of the divide as the Round 1 fixture kicked off in Melbourne but neither team managed to find a breakthrough as the points were shared at AAMI Park.
Catch up with all the key moments via our match centre.
REDS REVIVAL: Adelaide see off Sydney FC in pulsating season opener
ROARING START: 10-man Brisbane end opening day hoodoo with valiant win over Macarthur
Match highlights
What they said
Arthur Diles: ‘Last year was a focus problem… our mentality and resilience keep growing’
Melbourne Victory head coach Arthur Diles hailed his side’s improved resilience and mental fortitude shown against Auckland in a game he believes his side would have lost last season.
Diles also heaped praise on new signing and debutant Denis Genreau, saying it’s “only the beginning for a fantastic footballer” at the club.
Hear everything Diles had to say after the 0-0 draw below.
Steve Corica: Star of Premiership feat must ‘fight his way back into the side’
Auckland FC head coach Steve Corica says winger Logan Rogerson must fight for his spot in the Black Knights’ attack with off-season signing Lachlan Brook now ahead of him in the pecking order.
Rogerson scored nine league goals last season – the equal-most at the club – but was named on the bench for Round 1, behind former Adelaide and Wanderers winger Brook.
Corica also addressed the need to get minutes into the legs of star Uruguayan Guillermo May who also came off the bench after an off-season injury layoff in his post-match press conference. Hear everything Corica had to say following the 0-0 draw below.
The weekend so far
Western Sydney Wanderers 1-1 Melbourne City
MATCH REPORT: City expose 117-second Wanderers lapse and extend unusual six-year streak
Adelaide United 2-1 Sydney FC
MATCH REPORT: Adelaide see off Sydney FC in pulsating season opener
Brisbane Roar 1-0 Macarthur Bulls
MATCH REPORT: 10-man Brisbane end opening day hoodoo with valiant win over Macarthur
