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Sport Nation
Auckland FC down Western United to continue ALM premiership push
Joey Lynch, AAP • February 15th, 2025 10:34 pm
Guillermo May opened the scoring as Auckland FC beat the Wanderers 2-0 | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
Auckland FC have exacted some level of vengeance on Western United and taken another step towards a premiership in their debut A-League Men season with a 2-0 win at Ironbark Fields.
With the Black Knights aware a loss could have them replaced at the league's summit by Adelaide, two goals on the stroke of halftime ensured Steve Corica's side would remain at least two points clear regardless of the Reds' result against Newcastle.
Forcing a turnover inside Western's half, the visitors took the lead in the 44th minute on Saturday when Guillermo May was given too much time to tee up a long-range laser.
They doubled their advantage three minutes later when Neyder Moreno got to the byline and cut the ball back for Max Mata to tap home.
Possessing the ALM's best defence through a league-leading 11 wins, Auckland can still dream of matching Western Sydney's feat of a premiership in their debut season.
That would also secure a first piece of silverware for any New Zealand side in the Australian top-flight.
The result also achieved revenge for the 4-0 drubbing Auckland suffered against United last December, their first defeat after a record-setting start to life.
United fell to just their second loss in 11 games, with striker Hiroshi Ibusuki perhaps fortunate to escape sanction for an off-the-ball incident with Nando Pijnaker in the 50th minute.
Matthew Grimaldi slipped through Rhys Bozinovski in the 70th minute to create their best chance, only for Alex Paulsen to save at close range.
With a visit from second-placed Adelaide coming next week, United had already slipped from third to fifth entering the contest after wins by Melbourne's Victory and City earlier in the round and could fall to sixth if Macarthur defeats the Wanderers on Sunday.
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