The A-Leagues’ latest membership has made an immediate impression, with Auckland FC scoring a 2-0 victory over Brisbane Roar in a sold-out house debut at Mt Sensible Stadium.
Each the sky and the Mt Sensible Stadium stands had been blue as Auckland FC arrived within the competitors, their picture-perfect debut ending with a scoreline to thrill the sold-out crowd.
Harry Van Der Saag’s eighth-minute personal aim gave the Black Knights an early lead on Saturday, earlier than Logan Rogerson’s composed second-half end secured the outcome.
“It is wonderful,” coach Steve Corica mentioned.
“There’s been a giant build-up to this recreation … the boys had been trying ahead to it and we knew the gang would get proper behind us, which they did.”
Harry Van Der Saag’s personal aim opened the scoring within the eighth minute. (Getty Photos: Phil Walter)
This was a day that went utterly to script for the hosts and league chiefs.
Not solely might coach Steve Corica be proud of three factors, however Auckland FC’s billionaire majority proprietor Invoice Foley could be delighted with the bumper assist from Aucklanders.
The thumping 24,492-strong attendance was vindication too for head workplace, which awarded the licence and pushed on with the membership’s entrance, injecting some much-needed vitality to the competitors.
That determine was simply south of the all-time crowd for an A-League Males membership’s inaugural recreation, displaying the urge for food for the game in New Zealand’s largest metropolis.
Polish import overshadows Mata and Costa
There was additionally raucous assist throughout the ditch in Western Sydney, the place Wanderers lively supporter group the Pink and Black Bloc unveiled an unlimited “RBB” tifo within the stands earlier than kick-off.
It lined a sizeable chunk of the 27,496 followers packed into the stadium to observe the native derby towards Sydney FC, that includes the A-League debuts of Spanish star Juan Mata and Brazilian Douglas Costa.
However striker Patryk Klimala upstaged the big-name imports by main the Sky Blues to a 2-1 win over the Wanderers with an help and the decisive aim.
International strikers normally take some time to acclimatise to the ALM, however already Klimala seems the products and the Polish ahead was a thorn within the Wanderers’s facet all through the 90 minutes.
The previous Celtic frontman arrange Joe Lolley for Sydney’s opener, then turned within the winner within the 63rd minute.
Spanish star Juan Mata got here off the bench within the Wanderers’ 2-1 loss to Sydney FC. (Getty Photos: Steve Christo/Corbis)
Coach Ufuk Talay hopes it’s a signal of issues to return, with a entrance line boasting Klimala — in addition to Lolley and Costa on the wings — shaping because the ALM’s most harmful.
“A striker is all the time going to be judged on targets,” Talay mentioned.
“If he is scoring targets, I believe he’ll be assured, he’ll be completely happy.
“That is why we introduced him in right here. It isn’t the targets that he simply offers us … the work he does off the ball actually helps us.”
Costa was strong — his cross was the catalyst for Klimala’s match-winner — and the Brazilian gave the packed crowd a glimpse of his fleet-footed expertise.
Mata was not introduced into the sport till the second half and the Spaniard was unable to actually stamp his authority in a stint that lasted somewhat over half an hour — essentially the most he has performed in practically 18 months.
The one draw back for Sydney was a late straight crimson card for Max Burgess for a lazy sort out on Ben Holliday.
In Saturday’s different recreation, Melbourne Metropolis beat the Jets 1-0 in Newcastle.
AAP
