The New Zealand A-League derby delivered again, as Auckland FC strengthened their dominance over Wellington Phoenix with a chaotic 3-1 win at Go Media Stadium.
Four goals, two penalties - both of them saved - and a red card headlined the victory, as Auckland extended their perfect derby record and returned to the top of the competition table.
In front of 22,993 fans, the hosts struck first after just seven minutes. A sweeping move carved Wellington open, as Callan Elliot slipped Logan Rogerson in down the right, and the winger cut the ball back for Lachlan Brook to rifle home on the run.
The Phoenix task became significantly harder moments into the second half, when Manjrekar James switched off on a long ball and clipped Sam Cosgrove, as the striker broke in behind. As the last defender, James was shown a straight red, leaving Wellington to play the final 40 minutes with 10 men.
The match exploded from that point, starting with an act of defiance from Wellington captain Alex Rufer. A failed clearance from Brook fell to Rufer on the edge of the area and the skipper unleashing a thunderous half-volley past Michael Woud to level the match.
Auckland found Wellington stopper Josh Oluwayemi in magnificent form, as he denied Randall and Rogerson in spectacular fashion, while Lukas Kelly-Heald cleared Louis Verstraete's side-footed attempt off the line.
Oluwayemi then performed his penalty heroics, preventing Cosgrove from the spot - Auckland's first ever spot-kick in the A-League - after Ifeanyi Eze pulled the striker back in the box.
The England-born Nigerian then denied Francis de Vries from 12 yards, after Dan Edwards also hauled down Cosgrove, but this time, the Auckland fullback pounced on the rebound to restore a 2-1 lead in the 75th minute.
Substitute Guillermo May eventually killed the contest, with the Uruguayan volleying home at the back post, after Cosgrove headed de Vries' looping cross into his path. Tiring and stretched, Wellington could not muster another response.
Auckland saw out seven minutes of added time to claim their fifth win from five against their new rivals.
For the Phoenix, who now sit eighth, inconsistency continues to cloud their campaign and they must wait until February for a chance to finally get a derby win.
For Auckland, derby dominance continues.
SHARE ME