Auckland defeat Wellington, break 47-year-old record

Hiroki Sakai's deflected cross has helped Auckland on the road to a Kiwi derby win over Wellington. (Brett Phibbs/AAP PHOTOS)

Auckland FC have beaten Kiwi neighbours Wellington 2-0 at Mt Smart Stadium to extend their lead atop the A-League Men (ALM) table and secure the most successful start to life in the national league history of Australian football.

In a physical contest made to feel all the more frantic in what was reported as a record 26,253 crowd, a cross from Hiroki Sakai induced Isaac Hughes into turning the ball into his net in the 31st minute, the second own-goal the Auckland skipper has netted this season.

The former Japanese international then made another pivotal impact in the 70th minute when he floated a free kick to the back post that was met with a header from Nando Pijnaker, doubling the lead.

"We shot ourselves in the foot a little bit," Phoenix captain Alex Rufer told Sky Sports.

"Auckland are a good team and we were punished today."

Alex Paulsen deflected a Sam Sutton shot straight at him only for Matthew Sheridan to somehow fail to fire into an open goal three minutes later, only for Kosta Barbarouses to finally beat the keeper when he burst in behind and rifled the ball into the roof of the net in the 82nd.

It set up a breathless finish in which Wellington hurled everything at their foes but Pijnaker’s goal would ultimately prove decisive.

"It's fantastic, it makes a rivalry first and foremost, which is always great," Auckland’s Tommy Smith told Sky Sports.

"You look at the worldwide rivalries and we want this one to become a big one; it's going the right way."

Celebrating Auckland players.
Auckland players celebrate Nando Pijnaker's headed goal in front of delirious home fans.

Entering the ALM as an expansion franchise in 2024/25, Auckland began the day having won their first five games, equalling a record set by Western Suburbs in the first season of the NSL in 1977.

But whereas Western Suburbs fell to Sydney Olympic in their sixth fixture, Steve Corica’s side’s triumph over the already bitter nemesis ensured they stand alone in national league history.

And while Barbarouses may have snapped what had been a run of six-straight clean sheets, his strike came after Auckland had set a new mark for the longest time without conceding in any Australian season regardless of expansion status, breaking Preston’s record from 1986.

"You've got to try and find a way to win games and we've done that again today," said Smith.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store