On the positive side, Auckland FC remain top of the A-League men’s table.
After a 1-1 draw with Macarthur FC in Sydney on Monday night, the Black Knights continued their unbeaten streak away from home this season to move two points clear asthe team to catch.
But looking to bounce back from their second loss at home to the Newcastle Jets this season, it was a game Auckland will feel like they let slip.
Steve Corica’s side were the dominant party in the first stanza. They took a well-earned lead into the break after Lachlan Brook scored off a lovely ball from Hiroki Sakai and, while it was a period where opportunities were limited, the visitors controlled the bulk of the possession.
“A little bit disappointing not to get the three points. I feel like we controlled the game for the majority of it. We had chances, myself included, to finish it off,” Brook said after the match.
Lachlan Brook scored in Auckland FC's 1-1 draw against Macarthur. Photo / Getty Images
Throughout the season, Macarthur have proven to be a tough team to put away. The hosts came into the game on a five-match unbeaten streak across which they had shown they can score goals, defend well and secure points despite trailing in the match.
It was the latter that might be cause for frustration for Corica and his side as Tomislav Uskok’s 70th-minute effort cancelled out that of Brook.
Auckland weren’t without opportunities in the second half, but their inability to find that insurance goal came back to bite them in the end.
“I think it was just missing chances. I had a few that I should have buried as well and I think if one of those go in we can see out the game comfortably,” Brook said.
“It’s obviously not an ideal goal to concede either. I thought we were controlling the game so, on that front, disappointing, but at the end of the day, a point away from home, it’s not the end of the world.”
The Black Knights will now regather themselves for another two games on the road, with a meeting against top-four side Brisbane on Friday before a date with the reigning champions Melbourne City next Friday.
While Brisbane and Melbourne have scored just 11 goals each this season – tied for the second fewest in the competition behind the last-placed Western Sydney Wanderers – they have proven to be tough to score against. Brisbane have had the second-best defence in the league this season, conceding just nine goals in 11 outings, while City are third-best, with the keeper having to pick the ball out of the net 10 times. Sydney FC lead the way with just seven goals conceded.
