Melbourne City have created history with their first ever win over Auckland FC after a remarkable come from behind 2-1 victory over the Black Knights at AAMI Park.
Max Caputo’s penalty brought City back to level pegging after Lachie Brook’s opener, and when Medin Memeti nodded home the winner from Azia Behich’s cross the home side were deserving victors.
A City win appeared far fetched at half time, with Auckland appearing to be in control of the game when Lachie Brook scored in first half stoppage time to give them a 1-0 lead.
However City – who had recorded just one shot in the first half – came out a different side after the interval to become the first team to ever beat Auckland after going 1-0 down.
Brook opened the scoring just before the half time whistle after being set up by a centimetre perfect ball by Jesse Randall, which meant Brook almost couldn’t help but score.
Andreas Kuen sparked the City comeback when his 67th minute shot cannoned into the arm of Francis de Vries in an incident that was initially waved away by referee Shane Skinner.
However after a VAR check the penalty was awarded, which Caputo duly dispatched past Michael Woud.
The winning moment came in the 81st minute, when Aziz Behich pulled off a great piece of control and sent in a searing cross that Memeti managed to crash home.
The result came at a cost for City however, with both Kai Trewin and Andrew Nabbout having to come off with injuries.
Nathaniel Atkinson was everywhere after half time, contributing at both ends of the pitch on the way to three votes in the Alex Tobin Medal, while Aziz Behich was typically classy and industrious on City’s left hand side.
The loss was Auckland’s first on the road this season, and leaves them vulnerable to be overtaken at the top of the table by Sydney FC who play Wellington on Sunday evening.
The Black Knights are next in action against bottom of the table Central Coast Mariners next Saturday afternoon.
City, meanwhile, move up to third after the victory, and take on Macarthur next Saturday night.
ALEX TOBIN MEDAL VOTES:
3. Nathaniel Atkinson
2. Aziz Behich
1. Louis Verstraete
