The game’s highlight of the day was the Grand Final win of the Auckland FC A-League champions over Sydney, 1-0. It is a historic success as Auckland FC has won the inaugural A-League title, becoming the first New Zealand based team to do so. It was in the 60th minute that the game was won when Cameron Howieson laid off the rebound to get the only goal of the game.
His volley was slightly deflected and it caught goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares off-guard. The ball went into the goal and the sold out Mount Smart Stadium was filled with partying. The contest itself was a close one. Both sides were disciplined and had good defensive organization. But it was Auckland FC who appeared more relaxed in crucial situations. They butted heads with the pressure when it mattered most in a big match. This is no ordinary win – this is a win for the title.
The Kiwis are now in the company of a handful of cross-border champions in football as Auckland FC joins the list. In other leagues, clubs such as AS Monaco (France) and Derry City (Ireland) have enjoyed comparable success. This puts Auckland FC in a special situation in world football history. Sydney was on a roll into the finals.
They had come to this stage following a last minute equaliser and a penalty shootout victory in the semi final. Nevertheless, they failed to make another comeback in the last. Overall, this is a sign of the increasing competitiveness of the A-League. It also demonstrates the ease with which new teams can emerge to challenge established teams.
