Auckland FC 0
Melbourne Victory 2
At the end of a most beautiful season, this was the most horrible finish.
This couldn’t have been any worse for Auckland FC. With the script already written – in front of a huge crowd and an expectant nation – the Black Knights came up with one of the most underwhelming performances of their short life to go down 2-0, losing the tie 2-1 on aggregate.
It means the grand final dream is over, with the Premier’s Plate the only consolation.
In the end, it was even worse than the heartbreaker in Wellington last year, as Auckland had gone into the game off the back of an away win.
It’s hard to be too critical of a team that have done so much but this was a disappointing display. Melbourne got some luck but were rewarded for their courage.
They blew the tie wide open with two goals in the space of six second-half minutes, to Zinedine Machach and Bruno Fornaroli.
The first was fortunate – with a wicked deflection off Nando Pijnaker – but the second was all class, as Fornaroli thumped home after a delightful assist.
It meant Auckland had just over 35 minutes to rescue the game – and take it to extra time – though Pijnaker saw his shot cleared off the line late in additional time, while a Logan Rogerson header had been ruled out by the finest of margins.
The Rogerson decision was a tough call, especially as mutliple replays proved inconclusive but the video assistant referee (VAR) upheld the on-field judgment.
It was tough to take, especially for the record 29,148 crowd in attendance. But Auckland paid the price for a passive approach – seemingly content to sit on their 1-0 advantage – and didn’t handle the occasion well.
For much of the match, they looked like a team playing in just their second finals game, while the Victory used all the experience of 13 previous playoff campaigns.
Melbourne managed to shut down the threat of Francis de Vries, who didn’t get the chance of a cross from open play until late in the second half and Auckland didn’t have too much else to offer, losing their shape as the second half went on.
Corica had retained the same starting XI, while captain and defensive lynchpin Roderick Miranda returned for Melbourne Victory, along with veteran striker Fornaroli.
The atmosphere was electric at kickoff – though there was an obvious undercurrent of tension in the air. That was heightened after Auckland made a nervy start.
They took time to settle, with clearances miscued and passes under hit.
In contrast, Victory were straight into their work, forcing Dan Hall to stop a dangerous cross after 90 seconds. Melbourne found space in midfield and out wide – and were using it well – while also catching Auckland in transition.
Daniel Arzani was the villain and seemed to be involved in everything, with a huge cheer when he was booked for a foul on Louis Verstraete.
Gradually though, Auckland found their way. Marlee Francois had Victory keeper Jack Duncan at full stretch from a curling corner, before May’s shot was blocked on the follow-up, while Verstraete had also produced a hooked volley from a set piece.
But Melbourne were more threatening; Hall produced a brilliant slide tackle on Arzani, then an even better block on Jordi Valadon, after the ball fell kindly to him.
After a series of challenges – Felipe Gallegos was also booked – tensions eventually boiled over, with 19 players joining a melee after Zinedine Machach had fouled Francois.
Briefly, it looked like something out of the NRL, though only Alex Paulsen was booked, for sprinting across to confront Machach.
It was far from a vintage Auckland performance – but things were going to plan until the 55th minute, before Melbourne’s shock opening goal to Machach.
Though they had been the dominant team, it came from nowhere, a cruel deflection off Pijnaker taking the shot past Paulsen from 20m.
But it was symptomatic of the night, as the defenders had hung off. Neyder Moreno and Jake Brimmer were thrown on in response, but things got worse with Fornaroli’s emphatic finish.
It was a beautiful threaded pass but how was the striker in so much space, just six yards out?
Rogerson nodded home at the far post with 20 minutes to go but May’s cross had drifted agonisingly out, according to the officials.
More replacements were called – Cameron Howieson and Callan Elliott – but that left Auckland with a lopsided attack and it was a strange sight to see Sakai and Rogerson off the field, given the situation.
A brilliant touch and cross from Moreno should have been converted – but nobody made the run, much to the Colombian’s disbelief.
Moreno had a far post header, before Pijnaker’s shot was brilliantly cleared off the line in injury time, to the disbelief of everyone in the ground.
Auckland FC 0
Melbourne Victory 2 (Zinedine Machach 55, Bruno Fornaroli 60)
HT: 0-0