Sydney FC rising star Adrian Segecic scored two spectacular first-half goals, but Auckland FC never said die as the league leaders came from behind to take a point in a gripping 2-2 draw at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.
Logan Rogerson and Francis De Vries scored on either side of half-time to earn Auckland a share of the spoils in a breathless encounter that belonged to 20-year-old Segecic at half-time; the red-hot Sydney marksman drew level with fellow A-Leagues young gun Archie Goodwin at the top of the Golden Boot leaderboard on 12 goals for the season as he tore Auckland apart with two first-half goals of the highest order.
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But league-leading Auckland showed the full extent of their undoubted quality to haul themselves back into the contest at 2-2. The visitors, led by former Sydney FC head coach Steve Corica, had several big chances to snatch all three points but the hosts held on to take a point.
Sydney have now moved one point clear of seventh-placed Adelaide United on the Isuzu UTE A-League table but could end the weekend outside the top six, with Adelaide still to play Perth Glory on Saturday night.
Auckland, meanwhile, extended their lead over second-placed Melbourne City to four points; Western United, meanwhile, could set up an epic finish to the Premiership race with a win over Western Sydney Wanderers on Sunday afternoon – a result that would take Western up to second and three points behind the Black Knights.
It was the Adrian Segecic show in the first-half at Allianz Stadium as the 20-year-old Sky Blues forward took his goal tally to 12 for the season, equal with fellow A-Leagues youngster and Adelaide United striker Archie Goodwin at the top of the Golden Boot leaderboard.
Segecic scored two near-identical goals, equal in calibre, to get his side on top against the league leaders, with his first long-range bullet coming in the 12th minute of play.
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Twenty minutes later, Segecic was at it again, with both goals coming off the Sydney youngster’s venomous left boot and swerving into the top-left corner.
“Well, we’re running out of superlatives,” said commentator Robbie Thomson on the Network 10 broadcast, after Segecic rattled the back of the net for the second time in the first half.
“Adrian Segecic with seemingly nothing on, let fly from fully 30 yards out and again, Alex Paulsen clutching at thin air!”
“It’s blistering, I can’t think of anything else. It’s blistering from Segecic,” added co-commentator Andy Harper.
“Amazing from Segecic, (Alex) Paulsen can do nothing and that’s saying something. How hot is this kid?”
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Leading by two goals against first-place Auckland, Sydney were in the box seat at Allianz Stadium but the Black Knights were far from beaten, and took just four minutes to enact a response.
Logan Rogerson brought the visitors back to within a goal with a far-post finish after Sydney keeper Harrison Devenish-Meares spilled Marlee Francois’ shot into his path.
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The Black Knights came out after half-time intent on restoring parity in a gripping contest and, in the 68th minute, found an equaliser through Francis De Vries who stormed into the box to meet fellow fullback Hiroki Sakai’s deflected cross.
De Vries’ first-time strike hit the deck and bounced over Devenish-Meares into the back of the net to set up a blockbuster finish at Allianz Stadium.
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Auckland’s push to turn a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead almost came to fruition when substitute Jake Brimmer’s shot from close-range was deflected back off the knee of the Black Knights midfielder, and dribbled slowly toward Sydney’s unguarded net.
Fortunately for the hosts, Joel King got back behind Devenish-Meares to clear the danger.
Then came a near-calamitous moment for Devenish-Meares who was caught trying to build out from the back by Auckland striker Guillermo May, who got in the way of the attempted pass to cause a turnover on the edge of the box.
The ball popped up invitingly for Moreno who scooped a volleyed effort toward goal but Devenish-Mears’ blushes were spared as the Colombian’s effort grazed off the post.
