Auckland FC Outlast Wellington in a Fiery Kiwi Clasico
So, this latest Kiwi Clasico really delivered the drama, and honestly, it felt like one of those matches where momentum swung so wildly that you couldn’t look away for even a second. Auckland FC came out on top with a 3-1 win over Wellington Phoenix, but the scoreline doesn’t even begin to tell the whole story. The game had tension, controversy, missed chances, and a late surge that almost flipped everything on its head.
Right from kickoff, Auckland looked sharp. Their intent was clear, and it paid off just seven minutes in. Callan Elliot broke free down the right side with so much space that it almost felt scripted. He slipped the ball perfectly to Logan Rogerson, who then cut it back for Lachlan Brook. Brook didn’t hesitate for a moment—he slammed it home, giving Auckland the early lead and firing up the home crowd. And honestly, it looked like Brook was about to double up later in the half when Louis Verstraete lobbed a great ball into open space. Brook connected well, but Wellington keeper Josh Oluwayemi stuck out a leg and kept his side alive with a brilliant save.
Wellington, for their part, actually had more possession in that first half, but they just couldn’t turn it into meaningful shots. Carlo Armiento came closest early on, but Auckland’s defense shut him down quickly. Still, the Phoenix didn’t go away quietly.
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Then came the huge turning point: just after halftime, Wellington defender Manjrekar James was sent off for a foul on Sam Cosgrove, who was charging toward goal with real intent. Down to 10 men, Wellington suddenly needed something big—and they found it. Captain Alex Rufer stepped up with an absolute rocket from outside the box in the 55th minute. Out of nowhere, the game was level again, and it felt like Wellington might pull off something remarkable.
But Sam Cosgrove wasn’t finished causing problems. He earned not one, but two penalties as he kept forcing errors out of the Phoenix defense. Wellington’s goalkeeper Oluwayemi turned hero by saving both spot kicks, but Auckland defender Francis de Vries reacted fastest on the second rebound and knocked it in to restore the lead in the 72nd minute.
And just when Wellington pushed forward desperately, Cosgrove appeared again—this time slipping a perfect ball to substitute Guillermo May, who sealed the 3-1 result in the 80th minute.
With this win, Auckland claim their fifth consecutive victory over Wellington since joining the league and remain firmly in the mix at the top of the table. Wellington, meanwhile, continue their frustratingly inconsistent run.
It was a derby filled with emotion, high pressure, and those unpredictable swings that make football so addictive—and Auckland once again proved they know how to rise to the occasion when the rivalry heats up.
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