Hiroki Sakai of Auckland FC congratulates Neyder Moreno on his goal against the Wellington Phoenix. Photo / Photosport
Hiroki Sakai of Auckland FC congratulates Neyder Moreno on his goal against the Wellington Phoenix. Photo / Photosport
Auckland FC 6
Wellington Phoenix 1
This will be remembered for a long time.
Not only was it history for Auckland FC – but it might be defining for the Wellington Phoenix. It’s the kind of result that signals the end of an era and right now the men inyellow look a bit broken.
Auckland FC smashed their domestic rivals 6-1 on Saturday evening, after being ahead 3-0 at halftime, thanks to three goals in nine minutes. It was embarrassing for the proud club from the capital, who have fallen so far this season.
Colombian Neyder Moreno continued his golden run with a stunning hat-trick, while All White Logan Rogerson grabbed a brace.
There was a revival from the Phoenix early in the second half – as they scored one and went close to another – but it was too late.
It was another impressive effort from Black Knights – who are an efficient, effective machine – but there are light-years between these two clubs at the moment.
“It was just crazy,” lamented Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano. “There were 10, 12 minutes where we lost our heads. I was disappointed at halftime – I let the players know that it was unacceptable.”
It was a magnificent day for Auckland FC, in front of a record 27,009 crowd.
“That’s a very special one,” said coach Steve Corica. “I’m proud of the boys, what they’ve achieved. To win by that much in any game is [something] but in the derby, it’s something special. This showed convincingly we are the best team in New Zealand.”
Corica will celebrate – “a couple of beers or wine” – but isn’t getting carried away, with the top of the table clash with Adelaide next Saturday. But they are flying.
The match continued the theme of previous derbies, only worse. The Phoenix couldn’t handle the occasion in the first half – and were defensively fragile, when they needed to be resolute. Their young players struggled and the decision to hold back captain Alex Rufer until halftime probably backfired.
It’s been an incredible turnaround. This time last year the Phoenix were top of the A League, on a brilliant run, while Auckland had yet to sign a single player and were operating out of a small city office.
Now Auckland is truly the capital of New Zealand Football – as pronounced by a banner in the Port section – while the Phoenix will need to rebuild. Italiano will come under scrutiny for the management of his squad but this hints at deeper issues.
With this victory, Auckland became the first team in A League history to win three derbies in a season, something that hadn’t been achieved in either the inter-Sydney or inter-Melbourne clashes.
Auckland FC's Neyder Moreno celebrates his goal against the Phoenix. Photo / Getty Images
For all that, Wellington had made a promising start. Nando Pijnaker was booked inside 98 seconds and Hideki Ishige demanded a brilliant save from Alex Paulsen from the resultant free kick. That aside, the first 15 minutes was cagey, notable for some full-blooded challenges from both teams.
But Auckland began to gain control, with Wellington resorting to their familiar deep block. The first warning sign came when a Francis de Vries corner landed on the crossbar, with goal keeper Alby Kelly-Heald uncertain. Max Mata then had the ball in the net – ruled out for a foul – before Kosta Barbarouses went close, with a clever flick over the bar. From there, the carnage started.
The opening goal in the 31st minute was another beauty from Moreno, adding to his list, with a perfectly timed shot smashed through a crowd of bodies. But again, it was a poor concession, as Kelly-Heald couldn’t deal with a corner and two attempts were blocked, before Moreno’s thunderbolt.
The Phoenix needed a response – but it didn’t come. Instead, there was more ineffectual defending in the box, leading to Moreno’s second five minutes later. Clever work released de Vries, whose cross fell free – with Moreno the quickest to react.
The Yellow Fever section – that had provided great support – were stunned, while the Phoenix players trudged back to halfway. It soon got worse. The impressive Chico Geraldes couldn’t take a chance on the counter, ahead of Auckland’s third.
Wellington seemed like passengers as the men in blue danced around, before an unmarked Rogerson nodded in a Felipe Gallegos cross, as Paulsen ran to halfway to celebrate.
Italiano, head bowed, then retreated behind the dugout.
Against the odds, there was a mini comeback. Energetic youngster Luke Brooke-Smith finished off a smart move in the 49th minute, before some other chances, with Paulsen tipping over from Geraldes. But Moreno’s third – lashed from 20m – after the otherwise impressive Brooke-Smith gave the ball away in his own territory sealed the deal.
From there the match lost all shape; Auckland wanting more, Wellington seeking some pride. Rogerson added a spectacular fifth from distance in the 80th minute, before Jesse Randall grabbed his first A-League goal in stoppage time to complete a rare – and unforgettable -humiliation.
