Auckland FC lift A-League Men silverware after win over Perth Glory

Sunday, 27 April 2025

At Go Media Stadium: Auckland FC 1 (Marlee François 62’) Perth Glory 0. HT: 0-0

New Zealand teams have been competing in Australia’s football leagues for 26 years – and now they finally have some silverware to show for it.

Auckland FC were set to be presented the A-League Men Premiers’ Plate on Sunday evening after winger Marlee François scored an Olimpico goal straight from a corner to set them up for a 1-0 win over Perth Glory at Go Media Stadium.

A title for the billionaire-backed newcomers in their inaugural season had been confirmed on Saturday, when their closest rivals, Melbourne City, failed to secure the win over Adelaide United they needed to keep their Premiership challenge alive.

Auckland’s pending top-of-the-table finish made for a celebratory atmosphere when they took the field against last-placed Perth late the following afternoon – one that wasn’t dampened by a day of persistent rain in New Zealand’s largest city.

The big screen tells it all after Auckland FC’s breakthrough against Perth Glory.

Auckland’s win extended their ongoing unbeaten run to 14 matches, with one more to go next weekend before the top six teams contest the finals series, with the Championship and the ‘Toilet Seat’ trophy awaiting the winner of the grand final on the last weekend of May.

Steve Corica’s side will now be eyeing the Premiership-Championship double, but whatever happens from here, they have ended a 26-year wait for professional football success, getting up where the Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand Knights and Football Kingz have all failed previously.

They also became the first New Zealand team to win a major trans–Tasman title in a sport other than rugby since the Breakers won the Australian National Basketball League in 2015.

François’ goal in the 62nd minute came after his team-mate, All Whites striker Max Mata, did everything but score in the first half.

On one occasion, three minutes from the break, Mata forced Perth’s All Whites goalkeeper, Oli Sail, into making a sublime reaction save, when he met a cutback from the eventual goalscorer.

But mostly he sent his efforts wide of the target, starting when he missed to the right in the third minute, after Sail had punched a cross from Hiroki Sakai only as far as his feet.

Auckland FC players celebrate winning the A-League Men Premiership.

There were also two headers from crosses by Francis de Vries and one from a cross by Guillermo May where he would probably have felt he should have done better.

Moments of danger at the other end were few and far between.

Dan Hall had to clear after Adam Taggart put Alex Paulsen under pressure and prevented him from cleanly gathering a through-ball, then had to be alert after Louis Verstraete gifted the ball to Taggart on the edge of the box, conceding a corner which Paulsen dealt with cleanly.

At halftime the shot count was 15-0 in Auckland’s favour, though only two of those attempts were on target. It wasn’t as though they were playing with their food – more like it kept slipping off the end of their fork.

The story didn’t change in the second half, though the scoreline remained the same as the clock ticked past the hour mark, after Logan Rogerson ran down the right then teed up Francois for a shot sent straight at Sail.

The Australian 22-year-old did better with his next attempt from the left-hand corner, giving his side a well-earned lead with his first goal for the club in his 13th appearance.

Auckland FC striker Max Mata spurned a number of chances in the first half against Perth Glory.

Fittingly, Mata was close by as François’ ball cannoned into the net off the right post.

That Auckland couldn’t double their lead for added comfort was the only blemish on an otherwise dominant performance.

What’s next

Auckland FC finish the regular season with a trip to Western United next Saturday.

They beat Western 2-0 at their Ironbark Stadium home in mid-February after losing 4-0 to them at Go Media Stadium in December.

Their finals campaign will begin with the away leg of a semifinal of the weekend of May 17, with the home leg at Go Media Stadium to follow on the weekend of May 24.

The grand final is then set for the weekend of May 31. If Auckland host it, it will likely be at Go Media Stadium, with Eden Park, the only alternative venue, already booked for the Saturday.