Wheels falling off?
Match Report brought to you by Cupra (Official motor vehicle partner of Auckland FC)
Last night’s (or was that ‘this morning’s) encounter between Auckland FC and Perth Glory at HBF Park felt like a road trip gone wrong for the visitors, as they stalled in a crucial chase for the A-League Men’s top spot. Much like a car breaking down at the worst possible moment, Auckland’s missteps and missed opportunities left them stranded in third place.
The match began with promise, but Auckland’s hopes took a sharp detour when a costly “engine failure” occurred in the 29th minute. Auckland midfielder Felipe Gallegos had a bad turnover in a dangerous area, akin to losing control over the steering wheel, gifting Perth’s Jarrod Carluccio possession. Carluccio wasted no time, setting up 18-year-old Jaylan Pearman, who smashed home a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area—his first goal in only his third appearance .
Auckland’s attempts to restart their journey fell flat. They dominated the second half, out-shooting Perth 16 to 14 and applying pressure on goal, but their “gear shifts” kept slipping. Replacement striker Max Mata, brought on to give their offense a boost, squandered a golden opportunity from close range, skying his effort well over the crossbar in the 67th minute. Meanwhile, Perth’s goalkeeper Oli Sail acted like the ultimate roadblock, making several crucial saves, including a dramatic dive in the dying moments to deny Guillermo May .
Matters got worse for Auckland late in the game when “engine parts started to fall apart.” Defender Adama Coulibaly, making his debut, was sent off in stoppage time for taking down Joel Anasmo—Perth’s striker who looked set to score after breaking away cleanly . Adding to the breakdown, Auckland’s captain Hiroki Sakai suffered a head injury in the first half and was forced to abandon ship before halftime—a vital “component failure” the team couldn’t overcome.
Despite desperately trying to piece things together, Auckland never found the key to jump-start their attack. Perth’s victory was only their second of the season, but it was enough to halt seven straight home losses and turn Auckland’s race for the top spot into a larger uphill climb.
Now Auckland sits third, idling behind Melbourne City and Adelaide United. They’ll hope to fix their engine woes in time for a critical clash against new league leaders Melbourne City next Saturday.
Auckland’s journey this weekend was aptly summed up by a misfiring engine, missed chances, and a breakdown in discipline and luck. Their stalled vehicle may still reach its destination, but the road is looking bumpier than ever. Alas, Perth Glory were the better team on the day.
