Auckland FC will finish yet another weekend on top of the Isuzu UTE A-League table after a 2-0 win over top-four aspirants Western United at Ironbark Fields on Saturday night.
A remarkable goal from Uruguayan forward Guillermo May put the Black Knights on top late in the first half and three minutes later, Max Mata made it 2-0 on the cusp of half-time.
The three-minute blitz proved pivotal in a tight battle between Auckland and Western as the visitors saw out the second half without conceding a goal to claim three points in an entertaining affair in Tarneit.
Western began the weekend in third but have since been overtaken by both Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City and, having lost for the first time in five games, sit just one point ahead of both Sydney FC in sixth, and Macarthur Bulls in seventh.
Mata put his name on the scoresheet on the cusp of half-time but not before spurning a big early chance in Tarneit, heading wide from close range after a dangerous ball off the left flank.
Riku Danzaki had Western’s first big chance of the contest, and called Paulsen into a diving save with a left-footed strike angled toward the top-left corner.
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Hiroshi Ibusuki followed Mata’s lead in heading wide from a dangerous area as Western knocked on the door in search of an opener but the game remained goalless until the 44th minute when a late flurry of action saw Auckland get to the break with a 2-0 lead.
May opened the scoring for the visitors with a remarkable strike from range, dispatched off his left foot. The Uruguayan’s decision to shoot caught Western keeper Matthew Sutton by surprise as the ball buried into the bottom-right corner.
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Three minutes later, Auckland scored again and it was Mata’s simple finish that doubled the advantage. Neyder Moreno put it on a plate for Mata after shrugging off Western defender Dylan Leonard.
Western came out for the second half with a mountain to climb and after John Aloisi brought Matthew Grimaldi off his bench, the creative midfielder looked to inspire the comeback with a reverse pass into the box that sent Rhys Bozinovski into space for a one-on-one with Paulsen.
A deficit-halving goal looked certain to come off Bozinovski’s boot but Paulsen produced a stellar save to keep his side two-goals ahead.
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