Auckland FC continued their impressive winning streak in the A-League. They defeated Wellington Phoenix 2-1 at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart in Auckland on Sunday.
The victory marked Auckland’s sixth consecutive win, with a record crowd of 26,253 fans witnessing the dramatic encounter. Despite a late goal from Wellington’s Kosta Barbarouses, Auckland held on to secure their spot at the top of the league table.
The game began with Auckland on the attack, pressuring the Phoenix defence early. A 30th-minute own goal by Phoenix defender Isaac Hughes gave Auckland the lead after a dangerous cross from Hiroki Sakai. Nando Pijnaker doubled the advantage in the second half, heading in a free-kick from Sakai.
Wellington, determined to fight back, tested Auckland’s goalkeeper Alex Paulsen repeatedly. Barbarouses finally broke through in the final stages, ending Paulsen’s streak of clean sheets and setting up a tense finish.
The match was intense, with both teams showing physicality and passion in front of a vocal crowd. Yellow cards were handed out liberally, and the rivalry added extra energy to the contest. Fans on both sides celebrated loudly before and during the match, creating a lively atmosphere in Auckland’s city centre and at the stadium.
With this win, Auckland is now five points clear at the top of the league. Their next match is against third-placed Melbourne City on Sunday, while the Phoenix will host MacArthur FC on Saturday. The two teams will face off again in February for another exciting derby clash.
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