Auckland FC have started the new A-League season with a stalemate, after a hard earned 0-0 draw with Melbourne Victory on Saturday night.
It was always going to be bit different this campaign – after their spectacular six game winning streak last season - and so it proved.
This was a solid point, especially on this occasion, though Steve Corica’s men will know they could taken all three on another night. In a tight match of few big chances, Auckland FC had the best of them. Three fell to young striker Jesse Randall, while Auckland keeper Michael Woud had to be alert to deal with a thumping Keegan Jelacic strike in the first half but was otherwise comfortable.
On the plus side, Auckland FC showed their mettle and strong defensive shape, absorbing pressure for long periods. New signing Lachlan Brook had flashes of magic but fellow new recruit Sam Cosgrove struggled to get into the match. But it was the old firm, the likes of Hiroki Sakai, Dan Hall and Louis Verstraete who were standouts, while Jake Brimmer also impressed against his former team.
This match was billed as redemption, after Melbourne Victory’s semi final ambush five months ago but it was a very different Victory side, with only four starters from the grand final, due to injuries and off season moves. But they remain an impressive outfit, who will be among the contenders.
As signalled, Woud made his first league start in goal - 507 days since he was signed – while Guillermo May started from the bench, with Cosgrove and Jesse Randall used up front. Just like most games in Melbourne last season, Auckland FC had to weather an early storm. Victory pushed and probed – finding space, particularly on the right flank but Auckland were good enough to absorb, before they worked their way into the match. Cosgrove tried to make his physical presence felt while Brook showed class.
They could have – perhaps should have – opened the scoring in the 28th minute from a Marlee Francois corner. The ball fell to Randall, after Jake Girdwood-Reich challenged the keeper – but the young striker poked his effort wide of the far post from two metres out. It was an awkward opportunity, with Randall almost facing the wrong way – but a big chance all the same.
Melbourne’s moment came just before halftime, with Woud doing well to parry a full blooded Keegan Jelacic volley, after the home side had engineered space with some clever play. Overall Melbourne edged the first half, with their press particularly effective and the likes of Sakai and Hall were busy in salvage operations, while Cosgrove and Verstraete were booked.
But Auckland stepped up in the second half. Randall was denied by a strong defensive block in the 55th minute, after Sakai had released Brook with a brilliant pass, while Verstraete couldn’t get a clean connection off a set piece. May and Logan Rogerson were introduced in the 68th minute, for Brook and Francois respectively, while Spanish legend Juan Mata came on to a standing ovation. Rogerson almost gift wrapped a chance at his own end with a streaky pass, which Girdwood-Reich did well to clean up, as things got a bit frenetic.
Randall had the best late opportunity, after being found by Rogerson, but directed his shot from the edge of the area straight at Jack Duncan, while Sakai had to be alert to clear a dangerous cross in the final moments.
Melbourne Victory 0
Auckland FC 0
Halftime 0-0