Auckland FC start title defence with victory
A double on his debut for the club by Lachlan Bayliss helped Auckland FC get their A-League title defence off to a winning start, as they defeated Melbourne City 3-1 at Mt Smart.
In front of around 20,000 fans it was it was Bayliss, one of Auckland’s new signings, who introduced himself in style on Saturday afternoon.
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Selected to start by Pedro Moreira, who replaced Steve Corica as coach Bayliss first struck with a blast in the 35th minute.
Lachlan Brook removed all doubt with an 85th-minute dagger, keeping Auckland unbeaten in round one across their three-year history.
A back-and-forth contest begging for a moment of inspiration, Bayliss pounced on an errant pass from Besian Kutleshi and drove a first-time bomb from 35 yards out to bring it to life half an hour in.
City then produced a moment of class themselves, as a 42nd-minute square ball from Kavian Rahmani teed up MacNicol to fire into the bottom corner for 1-1.
A late challenge from Jake Brimmer on MacNicol sparking an all-in shoving contest that saw Sam Cosgrove and Aziz Behich booked.
But a quick transition soon after halftime put Auckland back ahead, as City’s headed clearance of a Hiroki Sakai cross sat up perfectly for Bayliss.
Brook then cut inside and curled in a shot late to set an impressive win.
The result continued a horror run in Auckland for City, who have now lost their four trips to Mt Smart Stadium by a combined score of 10-2.
Auckland FC are away to the Western Sydney Wanderers next Saturday night.
