Auckland FC's Louis Verstraete and Melbourne Victory's Kasey Bos. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / www.photosport.nz
Auckland FC have taken a significant step towards a dream Grand Final appearance in their debut A-League season, edging Melbourne Victory 1-0 in a tense semi-final first leg at AAMI Park.
On a cold and rain-slicked night in Melbourne, Logan Rogerson's 64th-minute header proved decisive. The forward, already a history-maker for the club with their first regular-season goal, added another milestone as Auckland's first finals scorer. Francis de Vries bulldozed Daniel Arzani off the ball before whipping in a perfect cross for Rogerson to nod home unmarked at the back post.
It was a deserved reward for a resilient Auckland performance. While Victory started brighter, it was the visitors who gradually took control. Belgian midfielder Louis Verstraete was immense in the engine room, snapping into tackles and driving Auckland forward in difficult conditions.
Dan Hall and Nando Pijnaker were rock-solid at the back, repelling wave after wave of late Melbourne pressure with Alex Paulsen largely unbothered and it could have been even better for Steve Corica's men.
Neyder Moreno came within inches of potentially putting the tie out of reach but his late effort came off both posts in a dramatic moment in stoppage time.
Auckland now return to Mount Smart Stadium with a precious lead and home advantage for next Saturday's second leg. With the Grand Final now within touching distance, the Black Knights will be cautiously confident of finishing the job in front of a passionate home crowd.
Read how the game unfolded with RNZ's live blog:
Squad lists
Melbourne Victory: 1. Jack Duncan, 2. Jason Geria, 3. Adama Traoré, 5. Brendan Hamill, 6. Ryan Teague, 7. Daniel Arzani, 9. Nikos Vergos, 10. Bruno Fornaroli, 11. Clerismario Santos Rodrigues, 14. Jordi Valadon, 16. Joshua Inserra, 17. Nishan Velupillay, 18. Fabian Monge, 19. Jing Reec, 21. Roderick Miranda, 22. Joshua Rawlins, 25. Jack Duncan, 26. Luka Kolic, 27. Reno Piscopo, 28. Kasey Bos, 30. Daniel Graskoski.
Auckland FC: 1. Michael Woud, 3. Scott Galloway, 4. Nando Pijnaker, 5. Tommy Smith, 6. Louis Verstraete, 8. Luis Toomey, 9. Max Mata, 10. Guillermo May, 12. Alex Paulsen, 14. Liam Gillion, 15. Francis de Vries, 17. Callan Elliot, 18. Finn McKenlay, 21. Jesse Randall, 22. Jake Brimmer, 25. Neyder Moreno, 27. Logan Rogerson, 28. Luis Felipe Gallegos, 31. Jonty Bidois
