Auckland FC celebrate a goal.
Auckland FC have continued their domestic dominance over Wellington Phoenix – and coach Steve Corica hopes they can achieve another derby clean sweep this season.
Auckland managed their fifth consecutive win over the Phoenix on Saturday evening, prevailing 3-1 in an eventful encounter at Go Media stadium.
The result – at the end of a dramatic contest – was a welcome fillip, after a scratchy fortnight at home.
It meant Auckland were coming into the derby under more pressure than normal, with speculation about a few cracks in the machine, while Wellington travelled north off the back of an impressive victory over Adelaide.
But Auckland FC delivered again. While they received at least one questionable penalty call – of the two given by referee Adam Kersey – they were a step above for most of the match, with only the heroics of Wellington keeper Josh Oluwayemi keeping the Phoenix in the contest.
As a squad they rose to the occasion, while Lachlan Brook and Logan Rogerson went well in a rejigged formation.
“You want to obviously come away with a win for everyone that’s turned up as as well as the players working hard,” said Corica.
“And just to have bragging rights over Wellington. We’ve only come into the league last season and we’re 5-0. Hopefully we can go to six; that’s our aim, that was our plan at the start [of the season]. We spoke to the players, we wanted to do that and we’ve given ourselves an opportunity.”
While the flashpoints came in the second half, the first period was crucial. After striking in just the seventh minute – with the well worked goal to Brook, at the end of a flowing move, Auckland shut down the Phoenix threats and gradually got into their groove.
“I was really pleased with the way they performed in the first half,” said Corica.
“That was the most important thing, that we didn’t concede and we defended really well.”
Auckland then got a “bit sloppy” after Wellington were reduced to 10 men just after halftime – with Manjrekar James dismissed for a clumsy challenge on Sam Cosgrove, before Alex Rufer hit a superb equaliser in the 55th minute. Corica was frustrated, as Auckland had chances to clear the danger, before Rufer lashed home on the half volley.
“It was a good finish,” said Corica.
From there it got spicy, with Auckland awarded the first penalty of their history in the 63rd minute, swiftly followed by their second 10 minutes later.
Sam Cosgrove saw his attempt saved by Oluwayemi before Francis de Vries was also denied, though the All Whites defender dispatched the rebound.
“You obviously expect the boys to score from the spot,” said Corica. “He made two good saves but it wasn’t the way I envisaged the pens. It would have been a lot easier if we scored that [first one].”
Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano was particularly disappointed with the award of the crucial second spot kick, as Cosgrove tangled with defender Dan Edwards in the box as a cross floated in.
“I’m still not sure how that is a penalty,” said Italiano. “If you’re going to give that as the standard, then there’s gonna be about 10 penalties per game. I mean, Sam and Dan don’t even know where the ball is. Dan’s half the size of Sam and Sam’s already on the ground. I just felt that was really soft, it’s minimal contact.”
Italiano also defended his team’s approach, with the high press and high line, despite another costly early goal, as Auckland broke quickly.
“If we’re cautious, it would go like what we did last season,” said Italiano. “We’re a team that’s changed, we’re evolving. A lot of our risk and reward comes from the way we press, we try to be on the front foot.
“It’s part of our playing style now, so I’m not going away from it. We’ll get rewarded in the long run.”
For their part Auckland now enter a tough stretch, with only one of their next six matches at home but they are in a good place.
“We’ve picked up three points and we’ve moved forward,” said Corica. “We’ve obviously got a tough month next with three away games on the bounce [so] we’ll see how we go.”
Michael Burgess has been a Sports Journalist for the New Zealand Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America’s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast.