In a thrilling conclusion, Bart Vriends, a defender for Adelaide United, scored a dramatic equaliser in the 98th minute, securing a remarkable 4-4 draw against Auckland FC. This result denied the Black Knights the chance to extend their lead to 10 points at the top of the league.
Auckland struck first in the 10th minute with an absolute wonder goal from striker Guillermo May, who expertly curled a spectacular shot into the top corner from outside the penalty area.
The home side quickly doubled their advantage just four minutes later, with May again on target, this time bundling the ball home from close range after Adelaide struggled to deal with a long throw into the box.
However, Adelaide found their rhythm and pulled a goal back in the 30th minute when Jordan Elsey capitalised on a situation after Archie Goodwin’s header ricocheted off the post and along the goal line.
Auckland restored their two-goal lead in the 52nd minute when Logan Rogerson scored with a close-range header, marking his seventh goal of the season, bringing the score to 3-1. Shortly thereafter, Zac Clough converted a penalty after a VAR review awarded the spot-kick.
Clough added another penalty to his tally in the 79th minute after Stefan Mauk was fouled in the box.
In a rollercoaster of a finish, Adelaide then levelled from their own penalty after a review highlighted a foul in the box, with midfielder Zac Clough coolly slotting the ball home. The final moments brought absolute chaos.
Auckland’s captain Hiroki Sakai appeared to net a winner in the 92nd minute, pouncing on a mistake from goalkeeper Ethan Cox. However, in the dying moments of the game, Bart Vriends equalised for Adelaide in the 98th minute, ending a thrilling contest with the points shared.
This result means Auckland remains eight points clear at the top of the Isuzu UTE A-League, missing the opportunity to extend their lead to 10 points.
Auckland FC has consistently been a force in the first half this season, and they struck early against Adelaide United, with May’s impressive goal just 10 minutes into the match.
Starting in an offside position, May cleverly dropped back just in time to receive the ball, then skillfully evaded a challenge from midfielder Jay Barnett before sending an exquisite strike past the goalkeeper and into the net.
The Black Knights have now scored nine first-half goals in their last six matches, and they quickly made it ten, a stat that Adelaide’s head coach Carl Veart will certainly want to rectify.
In the 14th minute, May capitalised on a defensive lapse following a long throw from Francis De Vries, darting to the near post unchecked and scrambling in Auckland’s second goal.
Against the run of play, Adelaide managed to bounce back in the 30th minute.
Striker Archie Goodwin’s fantastic header deflected off the woodwork and across the goal, where defender Elsey was perfectly positioned to tap it in, reducing the deficit to 2-1.
Adelaide adjusted their midfield formation to introduce two players in deeper roles, allowing them to seize control of the match as they sought to equalise.
Midfielder Zac Clough came close, skillfully weaving along the edge of the penalty area before releasing a curling shot that narrowly missed finding the top corner.
Clough then hit the post at a tight angle after Paulsen misjudged a low shot from the edge of the box.
The second half began similarly for the home side, and after May’s effort was well-blocked during a counter-attack, Auckland capitalised on the resulting corner.
De Vries sent in a superb in-swinging corner, which Rogerson headed home with ease, extending the Auckland lead to 3-1 as goalkeeper Cox found himself out of position.
Adelaide was given a lifeline by VAR in the 58th minute when an on-field review resulted in a penalty being awarded for a foul by Auckland’s Louis Verstraete on Ethan Alagich, which Clough took and converted, bringing the score to 3-2.
The home side created several promising opportunities but couldn’t secure the victory, a missed chance that would come back to haunt them.
In the 79th minute, substitute Mauk was brought down in the area; after VAR confirmed the referee’s decision, Clough once again found the back of the net from the spot, making it 3-3.
In a desperate bid to clinch a late winner, Auckland threw everything forward but were denied by Cox’s remarkable save against Jesse Randall from point-blank range in the 88th minute.
However, the goalkeeper was at fault just moments later, allowing Auckland’s captain Sakai to score the fourth goal in the 92nd minute, following a header that Cox could only parry back into Sakai’s path.
With nine minutes of added time, the drama wasn’t finished. In the 98th minute, after a deflected cross went unclaimed by the Auckland defence, Vriends capitalised, guiding the ball past Paulsen for a last-gasp equaliser, sealing a share of the spoils for Adelaide at Go Media Stadium.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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