Auckland FC claimed victory in their first-ever A-League derby against Wellington Phoenix, winning 2-0 at Wellington’s Sky Stadium.
The game drew a crowd of 26,252 fans, setting a record for Phoenix’s largest regular-season attendance. The match was close, with both teams creating chances, but two last-minute goals by Auckland’s Jake Brimmer secured the win.
The game remained scoreless until the 89th minute when a mistake from Phoenix’s new goalkeeper, Josh Oluwayemi, led to Auckland’s breakthrough. Attempting a pass, Oluwayemi accidentally sent the ball directly to Brimmer, who made the most of it with a precise chip. Just a few minutes later, in injury time, Brimmer scored again on a fast counterattack, solidifying Auckland’s lead.
Despite the final score, Wellington had several good opportunities to score earlier in the match. Kosta Barbarouses and Japanese forward Hideki Ishige each came close, with Ishige narrowly missing a header that could have put Phoenix ahead. Auckland, however, controlled much of the possession and kept up a strong pressing game, keeping Wellington on the defensive for much of the match.
The intense atmosphere added to the derby’s drama, with hard fouls in the opening minutes and vocal support from Auckland fans in the stands. The game was physical and tense, with multiple near-misses for both sides. Auckland now sits at the top of the A-League table, while Phoenix will be looking to rebound in their next match. The teams will meet again in December for another highly anticipated showdown.
