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Auckland Bounce Back To Winning Ways
by Jeremy Ruane
Isuzu Ute A-League leaders Auckland FC bounced back to winning ways a week on from their shock first-ever loss by seeing off Central Coast Mariners 4-1 in front of 6338 fans at the Industree Group Stadium on December 28.
The home team started the better, with Alex Paulsen forced to grab a Mikael Doka corner just in front of Trent Sainsbury in the seventh minute, to which Auckland responded via their trusty left flank combination four minutes later.
Francis de Vries sent Liam Gillion galloping down the left before rattling the near post side-netting after getting the better of Brian Kaltak - quite what Central Coast coach Mark Jackson was thinking by playing him out of position Lord alone knows, but Auckland weren't complaining.
And they certainly weren't complaining in the twelfth minute upon opening the scoring. Jake Brimmer picked out de Vries on the left with a great ball, and the fullback's cross was headed home emphatically by captain Hiroki Sakai.
Their advantage was short-lived, for just three minutes later, Central Coast were back on level terms via a clever free-kick routine. With all present anticipating a delivery into the penalty area, Doka instead rolled the ball across the top of the box into the stride of Alfie McCalmont, whose blistering twenty yard drive took a deflection which left Paulsen helpless as the ball careered into the net - 1-1.
Auckland came straight back at their hosts, probing with intensity and great frequency, but finding Central Coast's defence equal to the task, at least until the 31st minute, when the visitors regained the lead with a lovely goal.
Felipe Gallegos picked out Gillion with a gem of a pass which allowed the winger to take on the defence. His progress was ultimately hindered, but he got the ball back after Storm Roux's clearance, the fullback preventing a corner in doing so, but only just!
He must have wished he'd let it go for a corner given what happened next, for Gillion picked out Brimmer, who picked out the far side of the net with the most deft flicked volley, a strike of such quality that it completely deceived goalkeeper Dylan Peraic-Cullen as it arced beyond him and into the goal.
Straight away, Central Coast went on the attack in search of an equaliser, and were presented with a great chance in the 34th minute when Sakai directed a clearance straight to Lucas Mauragis - easily the pick of the home team's line-up in this match.
His curling cross invited Doka to apply the finishing touch, but Paulsen bravely dived between the playmaker and the ball to prevent the goal, but copped a right clattering for his troubles. He was able to continue, and got a great tonic to aid his
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recovery in the 39th minute, as Auckland extended their advantage.
De Vries was again involved, raiding down the left before delivering a cross which prompted a right mix-up at the near post between Peraic-Cullen and Nathan Paull. Guillermo May accepted the belated Christmas gift, and gleefully tapped in to make it 3-1.
Doka led Central Coast's resistance, a twenty-five yard free-kick rippling the roof of the net before the half-time whistle. After it, Central Coast were dominant, but for all their efforts, gained no reward.
Doka saw his twenty-five yard free-kick tipped over the bar by Paulsen in the 57th minute, and seconds later latched onto the ball in midfield before slipping a pass into the stride of Alou Kuol. His cross went behind the incoming Sabit Ngor James, who had made a terrific supporting run which deserved greater reward.
Auckland's resolute defensive effort repelled Central Coast at every turn - they simply couldn't penetrate their rivals for long periods of the half, and had to resort to long-range efforts, many of which were of the wayward variety.
A rare Auckland raid in the 78th minute reminded Central Coast of what they were up against. Gallegos and Gillion combined to play in May, but Peraic-Cullen saved at the Uruguayan's feet.
Five minutes later, and after an angled McCalmont cross had failed to pick out Kuol, Doka was extremely fortunate to only receive a yellow card for what was a red card offence - striking an opponent, with Callan Elliot the unwilling victim.
Auckland did what referee Shaun Evans failed to do, and punished Central Coast in ruthless fashion in the 84th minute. Louis Verstraete combined with Gillion to pick out Max Mata with an angled pass, and his cross to the far post was steered home across Peraic-Cullen by Logan Rogerson - 4-1.
There was a gathering of the clans just shy of the final whistle after Gallegos and Bailey Brandtman clashed after a late challenge, but no damage was done, certainly not of the kind Auckland inflicted on Central Coast on the scoreboard in this encounter as they bounced back to winning ways and opened up a four-point advantage atop the table.
Central Coast: Peraic-Cullen; Kaltak, Sainsbury (booked, 24 (Ngor James, 46)), Paull; Roux, McCalmont, Steele, Mauragis (Smith, 65); Eames (Brandtman, 46), Kuol (Feijao, 87 (booked, 90)), Doka (booked, 83)
Auckland: Paulsen; Sakai, Smith (booked, 90), Pijnaker, de Vries (booked, 67 (Elliot, 79)); Verstraete (booked, 89), Brimmer (Galloway, 72), Gallegos (booked, 90); Moreno (Rogerson, 60), May (Mata, 79), Gillion
Referee: Shaun Evans
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