Elimination final for Auckland FC after late draw
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Auckland FC will play Melbourne City in the first elimination final of the men’s A-League football finals series, after missing out on an automatic progression to the semi-finals.
The Aucklanders were bumped from second place by Adelaide United in a frantic finish to the 26-round regular A-League season schedule.
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In the last game played, on Sunday night, Adelaide snatched a 2-1 win against Melbourne City in stoppage time.
The result secured second place for Adelaide and consigned third-placed Auckland FC into the elimination finals starting next weekend at Mt Smart.
The club had hoped to get a week off by qualifying directly for the semi-finals, giving them the chance to rest tired players and recall All Whites Francis de Vries, Nando Pijnaker and Jake Brimmer, who are close to returning from injuries.
However, Auckland FC’s 2-2 draw with Sydney opened the door for Adelaide United, and the table switched in a matter of minutes when they stormed home against Melbourne City.
Striker Guillermo May was the saviour for Auckland scoring in the 67th and 90th minute.
It was a cagey start from both sides at Allianz Stadium before Sydney fullback Ben Garuccio rattled the upright in the 35th minute with a rasping drive, with teammate Tiago Quintal then stinging the palms of Auckland keeper Michael Woud with the rebound.
Five minutes later Woud was called upon again, this time palming away a low driven effort from Paul Okon-Engstler.
Certainly the busier of the two keepers, Woud was tested early in the second half as Peruvian Piero Quispe lashed an effort towards goal which was well saved, but the Auckland custodian was soon breached.
Dancing along the edge of the box, Quispe laid the ball off to Garuccio who, having feigned to shoot with his left foot cut inside on his right and sent a bobbling effort into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 to the Sky Blues.
Sydney’s lead lasted just 10 minutes though as Auckland levelled things up in the 67th minute through half-time substitute Guillermo May, who headed home Golden Boot winner Sam Cosgrove’s flick-on inside the box from a long throw.
Just as the game looked to be heading towards a draw the Sky Blues pounced in the 85th minute as substitute Victor Campuzano’s excellent flick-on was slammed into the roof of the net by defender Alexandar Popovic to make it 2-1.
Newcastle topped the points tabel with 48 followed by Adelaide on 43 then Auckland 42 with Melbourne Victory 40, Sydney 39 and Melbourne City 38.
