Auckland FC have claimed bragging rights in the inaugural New Zealand derby, newly named Mai te Raki ki te Tonga.
The Isuzu UTE A-League newcomers have beaten the Wellington Phoenix 2-0 in the first meeting between the two clubs at Sky Stadium, with a late brace from Auckland substitute Jake Brimmer silencing Wellington’s record regular season attendance of 26,252 fans.
After the match Auckland FC were presented with Ka Topa, a treasured taonga gifted by Te Āti Awa for Mai te Raki ki te Tonga matches in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano felt his side only had themselves to blame for the defeat.
“We gave them the three points,” Italiano told media post-match. “That’s the way I look at it. Can’t convince me otherwise.
“For large parts of the game we had a lot of opportunity to score. When we decided to go on the front foot and we were brave, we actually looked quite good.
“But again, we just didn’t capitalise on those moments.”
Brimmer’s first goal came from a mistake from Nix goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi as he attempted to play short from a goal kick.
Italiano won’t change the team’s plan from goal kicks because of the costly error.
“Last season goal kicks were 30 or 40% of our chances. Once you start baiting the fullbacks and centre backs to pull out, it becomes a transitional moment.
“I have to double down and show the benefit of doing that. We proved last year that it works quite well.
“It’s a common trend worldwide in football. I’m not going to change it. There were enough chances today to show that.
“I need to speak to Josh, knuckle it down to some basics and get his process right. I’m sure it won’t happen again.”
Giancarlo Italiano named the same XI which started last week’s 2-0 win over the Glory in Perth, with captain Alex Rufer passing a late fitness test in order to play. Italiano made one change to his bench, bringing on fit-again forward Marco Rojas in place of reserves captain Xuan Loke.
It took little over a minute for the first flashpoint of the derby, with Auckland midfielder Louis Verstraete committing a hard foul on Nix forward Hideki Ishige, who was a livewire throughout.
Rufer bundled over All Whites teammate Logan Rogerson soon after, but neither offence was deemed worthy of a yellow card.
It was a feature of the first half as referee Adam Kersey allowed a lot of fouls to go unpunished.
The visitors had the first shot at goal in the eighth minute with a deflected effort from Hiroki Sakai going just over the crossbar.
The Phoenix’s best spell of the first 45 came soon after and they created an opening for Kosta Barbarouses in the 18th minute, but he shot straight at Alex Paulsen in Auckland’s goal.
His opposite Oluwayemi made a couple of sharp saves for Wellington in the final 10 minutes before halftime, both to deny Auckland winger Liam Gillion.
Gillion was their most dangerous player and also shot narrowly wide of goal from a free-kick, but the match remained scoreless at the break.
The game was brought to a halt early in the second half as a result of a nasty head clash involving Scott Wootton and Guillermo May. Fortunately both players were able to continue.
Italiano made his first substitution soon after, bringing on young forward Nathan Walker, who signed a four-year pro contract during the week, in place of midfielder Fin Roa Conchie.
The Nix created a gilt-edged opportunity shortly before the hour mark when Rufer won possession high up pitch, drove forward and crossed to the back post where Ishige met the ball with a diving header that just bounced over the crossbar.
Wellington forward Stefan Colakovski entered the game in the 62nd minute in place of an ailing Matt Sheridan and a quarter of an hour later Colakovski got in behind the Auckland defence but his cutback was just behind Ishige, who made a great run to the six-yard box.
Kosta Barbarouses and Rufer both had powerful goal-bound volleys blocked in the 79th minute and they turned out to be the Phoenix’s last shots of note.
The match appeared destined to finish in a scoreless draw until Brimmer pounced on a wayward pass from a goal kick and slotted home the breakthrough goal.
He added his and Auckland’s second deep into stoppage time, tapping home from close-range after some good work from former Phoenix academy player Luis Toomey.
The Wellington Phoenix will have little time to dwell on the derby defeat as they are visiting two-time reigning champions Central Coast next Sunday.
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 4. Scott WOOTTON, 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE (41. Nathan WALKER 55th), 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 9. Hideki ISHIGE, 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 19. Sam SUTTON (21. Marco ROJAS 86th), 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN (11. Stefan COLAKOVSKI 62nd).
Unused substitutes: 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 12. Mo AL-TAAY, 24. Oskar VAN HATTUM.
Auckland FC: 12. Alex PAULSEN (gk), 2. Hiroki SAKAI (c), 4. Nando PIJNAKER, 6. Louis VERSTRAETE, 7. CAM HOWIESON, 10. Guillermo MAY (5. Tommy SMITH 90th), 14. Liam GILLION (8. Luis TOOMEY 83rd), 15. Francis DE VRIES, 23. Dan HALL, 27. Logan ROGERSON (25. Neyder MORENO 71st), 28. Luis FELIPE GALLEGOS (22. Jake BRIMMER 71st).
Unused substitutes: 1. Michael WOUD (gk), 3. Scott GALLOWAY, 18. Finn MCKENLAY.
Goals:
22. Jake BRIMMER (Auckland FC) – 88th & 90+6
Cards:
6. Louis VERSTRAETE (Auckland FC) – yellow – 56th
25. Neyder MORENO (Auckland FC) – yellow – 82nd
