Auckland FC Celebrates Historic First A-League Goal with Stunning Premiers Plate Triumph

Just 409 days since their establishment, Sunday afternoon was set to be a celebration at Go Media Stadium as Auckland FC prepared to claim the Premiers Plate after being officially declared Premiership winners.

The freshly crowned Premiers created the first chance of the game in only three minutes, with striker Max Mata firing a low shot wide after Perth keeper Oli Sail mishandled a cross into the box.

Less than 90 seconds later, winger Marlee Francois dashed behind the Glory’s defence and found Logan Rogerson, but the fellow attacker blasted his shot over the bar.

In the ninth minute, Auckland had another great opportunity when defender Nando Pijnaker couldn’t direct the ball across the line amidst panic in the visitor’s defence during a Black Knights free-kick.

Despite being under constant pressure, Perth Glory nearly struck first when, in the 12th minute, former Tottenham Hotspur youth player Luke Amos delivered a brilliant pass to captain Adam Taggart, but the Socceroo couldn’t quite get enough on the ball to nudge it past the oncoming Alex Paulsen.

Auckland continued to dominate, coming close again in the 22nd minute as an unmarked Mata headed wide after being expertly set up within the area by Guillermo May.

The chances kept rolling in as May had a right-footed shot deflected wide in the 26th minute, and Francois’ dipping half-volley narrowly missed two minutes later.

Cranking up the heat before half-time, Auckland FC’s best chance came when Mata, after drifting into space on the left flank, had a powerful shot astonishingly thwarted by Sail, who pulled off an incredible reflex save.

Mata then glanced a header agonisingly wide of the far post before the break, as Corica’s Premiership winners headed into the dressing rooms in clear control of the match.

Continuing his fine form, Perth keeper Sail denied Francois from close range once again in the 60th minute.

However, the breakthrough finally arrived two minutes later when Francois delivered a right-footed inswinging corner; despite Sail’s previous heroics, he was left embarrassed as the ball sailed over him, clipping the post en route to making it 1-0.

Substitute Liam Gillion nearly added a second in the 83rd minute, heading wide of the target.

Perth threatened to spoil the festivities just a minute later as Taggart unleashed a fierce shot into the side netting, while Colombian Neyder Moreno came close to making it 2-0 in the dying moments.

Ultimately, the home side held firm to secure their 15th victory of the season, as captain Hiroki Sakai raised the prestigious Premiers Plate trophy high above the jubilant crowd at Go Media Stadium.