Lachlan Brook takes his spectacular free kick against Brisbane. Photo / Photosport
Lachlan Brook will never forget his first goal for Auckland FC – and neither will anyone who was able to witness it.
The winger produced a stunning, inch-perfect free kick in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Brisbane Roar, to claim a point in a match where the home side created little.
It was one of the best goals of Auckland’s short history and a timely boost for Brook, a marquee arrival in the off-season from MLS club Real Salt Lake. The 24-year-old had shown glimpses of his quality across the first four matches but was relieved to get off the mark.
“I was obviously very happy with it,” Brook told the Herald. “The pressure was slowly building on myself to score, obviously not from others, but from myself.”
After being clipped by Brisbane fullback James McGarry, Brook lined up the set piece from nearly 25m out.
“I was talking with Jesse [Randall], we’re both on free kicks and we were deciding on what would be best. With the way it was lined up and how far it was, we thought a left footer would be better for it and obviously it turned out alright.”
It was perfectly struck, curling up and over the wall and into the far corner. Brook knew instantly it was a special strike.
“I don’t know how to describe it, but when you connect with the ball you always have a feeling and I felt as soon as I kicked it that it had a good chance.”
Brook, who ranked the effort in his top two or three career goals, has settled well in Auckland, after his move from the United States and has been an effective presence on the left flank.
Sunday was a frustrating match, as Auckland never really got going. Brook’s goal should have been a spark – coming against the run of play – but Brisbane continued to dominate the first half, eventually rewarded with Justin Vidic’s goal in the second minute of added time.
The second half was a tighter affair – and Auckland had some half chances – before a thunderous Francis de Vries free kick hit the cross bar in the dying minutes.
“We didn’t create too much [but] I don’t think that’s what was missing,” said Brook. “Just [not] winning second balls, pretty much throughout the whole game. if you’re second to the ball, you have to defend a lot more and that was the case.”
Coach Steve Corica agreed, saying they were outmuscled and outgunned by a physical Brisbane side.
“It was a very flat performance,” Corica said. “I expected more. We just let ourselves down.”
Corica was particularly disappointed with what he described as a costly Brisbane equaliser, coming just seconds before the halftime break.
“If you look at [their] goal we were just second to everything,” he said. “We speak about second balls, putting pressure on the ball, keeping a high line and we didn’t do any of that really and that was the cause of the goal.”
Auckland striker Sam Cosgrove spent much of the first half in a running battle with the Brisbane central defenders, with various altercations which tested the referee’s patience as he picked up a yellow card and incurred several other fouls. It’s not the first time that the English forward has been seemingly distracted, while he had few opportunities to show his wares. However, Corica defended his import.
“I wouldn’t single out any player, everyone performed badly,” Corica said. “It’s as simple as that. We were flat, it wasn’t Sam, it wasn’t anyone that came in. It was just an overall poor performance.”
If there were any mitigating factors, it was the list of injured and suspended players, along with Francis de Vries and Jesse Randall feeling the effects of their time away in the United States with the All Whites, which left Auckland FC more vulnerable than normal.
“Obviously there has been a lot this week,” said Corica. “So maybe a point in the end is not bad but we don’t want to use [those things] as excuses. The overall performance wasn’t good enough and we expect more from our players. [But] being unbeaten is a real positive [and] I suppose when you play that badly that not losing is important.”
Brook was also philosophical, ahead of Sunday’s match with Newcastle Jets (3pm).
“For us to come out with a draw when we feel like we’ve played not at our best at all, [it’s] a credit to how high we keep our standards. Obviously we’re very disappointed ... when we draw it still feels like a loss.”
Central defender Dan Hall will return from suspension next week, while vice captain Jake Brimmer, who dislocated his shoulder against the Phoenix, is also expected to be available. Hiroki Sakai (hamstring) and Logan Rogerson (suspension) remain sidelined.
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.