Black Knights increase A-League lead

By Kris Shannon

Ten games unbeaten, seven points clear and five more to play – Auckland FC are edging ever closer to the Premier’s Plate.

The Black Knights increased their A-League lead with an inelegant but effective victory over Brisbane Roar on Sunday night, breaking a run of three straight draws and leaving them weeks away from making history.

A minor premiership will hardly be the main aim as the regular season ends, with a successful run through the subsequent playoffs taking clear precedence. But it would represent an outstanding achievement for a club in their debut campaign, especially considering that prize still eludes the Wellington Phoenix.

Auckland’s success this season was captured in microcosm at Suncorp Stadium: an almost impenetrable defence, with Alex Paulsen a reliable last resort when the opposition did break through, and a clinical knack for killing off games with goals at pivotal times.

They came from Nando Pijnaker on the stroke of halftime and Hiroki Sakai with 10 minutes to play, the two defenders defying the heat to get up the field and apply a crucial finishing touch.

Those strikes aside, it was largely a performance to forget, with Brisbane controlling large stretches despite their lowly standing. But after a frustrating few weeks allowed their challengers to close the gap to four points, it was another result to remember for Pijnaker and his teammates.

“This was a massive game for us in the title run so hopefully we can keep it going and finish up on top,” the centre-back told Paramount Plus. “It was an extremely difficult game for us with the conditions, it’s very hot out here so we struggled a little bit and it was difficult to break Brisbane down and create opportunities.

“We managed to get a few crosses into the box and I got up for one and managed to head it into the goal, so very happy with that.”

Coach Steve Corica must have been equally pleased to restore Pijnaker to starting XI and reestablish the defensive quartet that started the season by going five games without conceding, including another 2-0 win over Brisbane in the club’s inaugural fixture.

Since then, Dan Hall’s long-term injury and Pijnaker’s recent suspension prompted a reshuffle, with that reunited central-defensive pairing once again tightening the clamps alongside Francis de Vries and the ageless Sakai.

“What a player,” Pijnaker said of the Japanese. “It’s a privilege to play with a player as good as he is and the clubs he’s played for. It’s a good opportunity to learn from him and having him on your team is always going to help.”

An opposition with only two wins this season also seemed set to aid Auckland’s cause, but Brisbane had belatedly found a bit of form and proceeded to dominate the first half.

The home side enjoyed more possession and registered twice as many shots, only for Pijnaker to provide a resounding finish from Louis Verstraete’s cross deep into stoppage time.

The goal continued Auckland’s propensity to strike late in halves yet did little to change the trend of the game after the break, though Brisbane only occasionally threatened an equaliser and routinely found Paulsen scuppering those hopes.

Sakai finally eased any nerves following good work from Logan Rogerson, firing home to send the Black Knights back home with silverware in their sights.

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission