Western United beat Auckland FC 4-0 in Auckland. Photo / Shane Wenzlick, Photosport
Auckland FC 0
Western United 4
You might call this a Christmas calamity.
Auckland FC’s unbeaten run was always going to come to an end at some stage – but few could have foreseen this. This is the kind of defeat that will hurt for days and take the gloss off any festive celebrations, of what has been a remarkable start to the A-League season.
At their Mt Smart fortress, Auckland FC were mauled 4-0 by Western United on Saturday evening, with three goals coming inside the first 34 minutes.
It was a shock – given the league ladders had only conceded three in their previous seven games – and could have been worse – as Western United came close to a couple more in the first half, before the fourth just before the end.
“The first half was terrible – let’s face it,” lamented Auckland coach Steve Corica. “The boys didn’t turn up for the first half, and you can’t allow a good team like that moments in games.
“We didn’t compete, we didn’t win the second ball and that’s what got us in trouble in the first place.”
Corica went as far as to say the team may have been complacent, after a run which has confounded all expectations and they paid a heavy price.
“Maybe a little bit of complacency settled in,” said Corica. “They think they don’t have to do the basic work that we expect from them. If you are going to do that – against a good team – they are going to punish you.”
There was a flashpoint, with Western’s third goal in the 34th minute, with referee Casey Reibelt impeding Jake Brimmer as he tried to collect a pass in midfield, with Hiroshi Ibusuki subsequently scoring from the quick turnover.
Reibelt allowed the goal to stand, despite the advantage accrued. That decision had an impact – changing any comeback scenario from improbable to impossible – but Western United were still good value for their win, by far the dominant team.
“The damage was done before that [incident],” conceded Corica.
Western United were too strong, too physical, too smart and too fast. Their press forced errors and they had the edge in midfield all game. Auckland FC have exceeded expectations but this was not their day, with too many players off their game.
The absence of injured central defender Dan Hall was clearly felt – with the revamped backline not looking comfortable – but it was a team wide issue in a strangely flat performance.
“We were just off,” said Corica. “You could see it wasn’t one or two players off. It was basically the whole team.”
If you believe in omens, it started with Western United winning the toss, which meant Auckland FC wouldn’t finish the game at their favoured end, in front of the Port.
But the signs weren’t good from the first few minutes; the visitors swarmed with a high press and a high line and Auckland couldn’t get any control in midfield. Even the normally unflappable captain Hiroki Sakai was edgy, with a risky pass inside his own penalty area almost leading to calamity.
Western United were first to everything – and looking more dangerous – and it was no surprise when they opened the scoring, given the pressure exerted. It was a unfortunate but also clumsy handball by Callan Elliott to concede the penalty and Riku Danzaki made no mistake with the spot kick.
Auckland needed a response but only fell into a bigger hole, with the second goal six minutes later. Goalkeeper Alex Paulsen did well to save the initial effort from Ibusuki, who outmuscled Nando Pijnaker, but Noah Botic was first to the rebound, ahead of any defenders.
The crowd were in shock, as were the players but they couldn’t stem the tide. Western United looked more likely, though their third goal was controversial, as tempers began to fray.
Brimmer was impeded as he tried to get to a simple pass in midfield, leading to a quick transition. With Auckland on the hop, Ibusuki got free to finish expertly, though Pijnaker will be disappointed he couldn’t stop the striker. Auckland’s appeals fell on deaf ears though, with Reibelt allowing the goal to stand.
It felt like a backbreaker and will be debated, with Sakai still trying to reason with the official at halftime.
There were chances after the interval – as Corica introduced Jesse Randall, Logan Rogerson and Max Mata – and more offensive pressure – but nothing really concrete.
Auckland switched to three at the back and threw more players forward but couldn’t make a breakthrough, as they also lost their shape. Matthew Grimaldi put the seal on a magic day for the visitors with their fourth in the 87th minute.
Auckland FC 0
Western United 4 (Riku Danzaki, Noah Botic, Hiroshi Ibusuki, Matthew Grimaldi)
HT: 0-3
Michael Burgess has been a sports journalist since 2005, winning several national awards and covering Olympics, Fifa World Cups and America’s Cup campaigns.