Auckland FC’s Dream Season Ends in Agony After Semi-Final Heartbreak

One cruel deflection, one disallowed goal, and a double dream dashed in the semi-finals

By Eddie Meireles | Pitchside HQ
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AUCKLAND — It was almost the perfect fairytale ending. In their inaugural A-League Men season, Auckland FC stood on the verge of a historic double — the Premier’s Plate and the Championship title. But when it mattered most, the one ingredient they couldn’t control deserted them: luck.

In a tightly contested semi-final second leg at Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland FC’s season came to an agonizing halt following a 2-0 defeat to Melbourne Victory. The result overturned Auckland’s first-leg advantage and sent the visitors into the Grand Final, leaving the debutants heartbroken.

Misfortune at Mount Smart

Nando Pijnaker, who has been the defensive cornerstone for Auckland all year with a league-high 186 clearances, found himself at the center of the cruel twist. In the 55th minute, Victory’s Zinedine Machach took a speculative shot that deflected off Pijnaker’s sliding leg and wrong-footed goalkeeper Alex Paulsen. The ball nestled into the net, and Auckland’s momentum vanished.

Moments later, Auckland’s usually disciplined defense was caught napping. Veteran striker Bruno Fornaroli, sharp and cunning at 37, peeled away from Pijnaker and was played onside by Francis de Vries—the result: a clinical second goal and a crushing blow to the home side’s hopes.

Controversial Call

Auckland thought they’d clawed one back when Logan Rogerson — a hero of their campaign — headed in from Guillermo May’s looping cross. But the goal was disallowed, with officials deeming the ball had crossed the byline. VAR checked the play briefly, but the decision stood. Post-match, head coach Steve Corica voiced his frustration with the lack of a thorough review.

Later in the match, Victory goalkeeper Jack Duncan spilled a cross, and Pijnaker nearly equalized — only for the ball to be cleared off the line in a last-gasp effort.

A Season to Remember

Despite the exit, Auckland FC’s debut campaign was remarkable. They built a strong fanbase, played disciplined football, and never backed down from any challenge. Their tendency to score late winners became a trademark. But football can be cruel — and when their luck dried up, so did their shot at glory.

Victory’s head coach, Arthur Diles, rolled the dice with an aggressive setup featuring five attackers — and it paid off. Fornaroli led from the front, and the visitors walked away deserving winners on the day.

Around the Grounds

• Chris Wood and Nottingham Forest will not see Champions League action. A 1-0 loss to Chelsea on the final day of the Premier League season saw them finish seventh — painfully short, especially after Aston Villa and Newcastle both lost.

• All Whites boss Darren Bazeley named his squad for June friendlies against Ivory Coast (June 8) and Ukraine (June 11). Returnees include Ben Old, Finn Surman, Bill Tuiloma, Callan Elliot, and Nik Tzanev.

• Wellington Phoenix’s Sam Sutton has signed with Perth Glory, as part of a sweeping personnel shake-up that also saw assistant coach Adam Griffiths and others depart.

• Sunderland have returned to the Premier League, joining Leeds United and Burnley, after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Sheffield United in the Championship playoff final
  Source:RNZ