Perhaps the only surprise was how early this late winner came – the Black Knights scored a 95th-minute winner in their last fixture against Western Sydney Wanderers, which followed a 99th-minute equaliser in their previous match against Adelaide.
“We’ve done it before, so we know we’ve got that in the locker,” defender Tommy Smith told Sky Sport. “It’s our fitness levels that shine through – we know we’re fitter than all other teams.
“We’ve worked so hard all throughout the season to be the best team in the league, and it’s proof in the pudding in how many goals we score late on.”
While that pedigree meant the outcome was hardly surprising, Verstraete did make for an unlikely hero. Nodding in a typically pinpoint ball from Frances de Vries, it was the holding midfielder’s first goal of the season.
The decisive strike was also deserved, with Auckland having wrestled enough control against an opponent who entered the game in fourth place. Macarthur contributed plenty to a hard-fought contest but the hosts created by far the better openings, needing only the final touch that Verstraete eventually applied.
“The first half was tough; it was a bit of a war of attrition between two good teams trying to go at it in tough conditions,” Smith said. “But we’re delighted to come away with the three points, especially in front of our home fans.”
Those fans had plenty to shout about early as Neyder Moreno celebrated a rare start by tucking home a ninth-minute opener, adding that to the four goals the Colombian had scored off the bench this season.
But Macarthur quickly hit back through Jake Hollman, and having had their goal breached in a home fixture for only the third time, Auckland FC initially struggled to rediscover their composure.
That task was complicated when Nando Pijnaker was forced off after previously playing every minute of the season, the All White’s evident discomfort leaving coach Steve Corica concerned about losing a second starting centre-back to long-term injury.
But the home side gradually regained the upper hand as Guillermo May enjoyed the two best chances before halftime, one low header well saved before a second stretching effort sailed over the bar.
Auckland remained the more threatening side in the second half, with de Vries’ advancements down the left a regular source of openings, yet Macarthur dealt sufficiently well with most incursions into their box.
Searching for greater creativity, Corica made a triple-change with 20 minutes to play, those fresh legs combining with Auckland’s fitness levels to increase the likelihood of adding the latest late twist.
Once it came, Auckland were able to look ahead to a grudge match against Western United after their bye week, visiting an opponent who dealt the leaders a 4-0 thumping in Auckland earlier in the season.
“The way the result went last time, we were not happy with that at all,” Smith said. “We’ll be looking for revenge.”
Auckland FC 2 (Neyder Moreno 9, Louis Verstraete 80)
Macarthur FC 1 (Jake Hollman 19)
Halftime: 1-1
