Auckland FC edged out South Melbourne FC in a highly entertaining top of the table clash on match day two of Round 5 in Ba.
Domestic commitments meant that the Australian side were missing a number of first choice players, including captain Marco Jankovic and dangerous forward Yuki Uchida.
Early impressions suggested the much-changed squad would struggle, when Auckland FC took the lead after just 22 seconds. Jason Robinson feeding Emiliano Tade from the left-hand side, who laid off for Liam Gillion to finish confidently past Ilia Shalamanov-Trenkova.
Those fears were assuaged in short order however, as Sinisha Cohadzic’s side responded well.
A Jack Painter-Andrews long throw was flicked on in defence, finding Andrew Mesourouni at the back post, who took one touch to steady himself, before firing past Oscar Mason to equalise after just ten minutes.
It would get even better less than fifteen minutes later for South Melbourne when they took a deserved lead.
Jordan Swibel held the ball up excellently, pirouetting away from his marker and prodding the ball to the on-rushing Charlie Leech, who fired low past Mason to complete the turnaround.
Much like their encounter earlier in the season, it was a physically challenging match. Leech joining Painter-Andrews and Jack Pope in picking up first-half bookings.
Auckland FC were much improved in the second period and again started on the front foot. Veteran forward Emiliano Tade with an early chance, catching a volley well but directing it narrowly wide of the far post.
Mesourouni went close with a similar effort at the other end, dragging his shot past Mason’s right-hand post.
The New Zealand side, perhaps unsurprisingly, were the stronger of the two in the closing stages, taking advantage of their opponents lack of options off the bench.
Matt Ellis was the man to find the equaliser. Driving at the South Melbourne defence from the right-hand side and smashing a stunning effort past Shalamanov-Trenkova and into the top corner.
It was thoroughly deserved for Luke Casserly’s side, who then went about searching for a late winner.
That search became a little more straight forward when Charlie Leech picked up his second booking. The midfielder receiving his marching orders after a cynical attempt to stop an Auckland FC counter-attack.
They then duly took advantage just over five minutes later. Robinson with a neat clipped pass over the top of the defence found Michael Den Heijer, before the big defender selflessly squared to his fellow substitute Ronan Wynne who rolled into an empty net.
The league leaders were able to hold on comfortably and consolidate their position on top, as South Melbourne FC start to look behind at the group of teams hot on their heels.
