Late Moreno magic sinks WSW as Auckland go top in ALM
A 95th-minute Neyder Moreno winner has helped Auckland FC down Western Sydney Wanderers 1-0 and move to the top of the A-League Men.
Steve Corica’s side are flying in their maiden campaign and their early-season spark has shown no signs of dimming after Moreno’s late strike at CommBank Stadium on Sunday.
Auckland now sit in top spot, the unglamorous win over the Wanderers moving the competition new boys two points clear of Adelaide United.
This was nowhere near Auckland’s most polished performance in their short existence, but their habit of snatching late winners is beginning to become a hallmark of the ALM’s newest club.
More than 40 per cent of Auckland’s goals this season have come in the final quarter of an hour, and the last-gasp victory over the Wanderers followed a 99th-minute equaliser away to Adelaide a week earlier.
It was unfortunate for the Wanderers, who looked to have hung on for a valuable point courtesy of some top-class goalkeeping from Lawrence Thomas.
In front of Socceroos coach Tony Popovic, the Wanderers captain delivered what was close to his best performance of the past 12 months.
The depleted home side were without Brandon Borrello due to a hamstring injury, and were so short of defenders that central midfielder Josh Brillante was deployed in Alen Stajcic’s back four.
But Thomas stood tall for large periods, thwarting Max Mata and Moreno during a tense game in Sydney’s west.
Nicolas Milanovic had the Wanderers’ best chances of the game, but could not find a way past Auckland’s Alex Paulsen.
There was one final twist as the game ticked into the final minute of added time as Auckland pressed high up the field.
Dean Pelekanos failed to clear the ball and Auckland switched play to the left flank, where Colombian attacker Moreno was on hand to tuck the ball past Thomas for a dramatic late winner.
The defeat was the Wanderers’ third consecutive loss at home and Stajcic’s side remain in eighth spot, four points adrift of the competition’s top six.
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