Auckland FC’s Australia Cup run halted by same giant-killers that beat Wellington Phoenix
Sunday, 31 August 2025
Auckland FC have joined the Wellington Phoenix in being eliminated from the Australia Cup by Victorian semi-professional side Heidelberg United.
The reigning A-League Men premiers lost 2-0 in their semifinal in Melbourne on Saturday night to the team that beat the Phoenix 4-0 in the previous round and another professional side, Western Sydney Wanderers, 3-0 in the round before that.
Heidelberg, who finished second at the end of the regular season in the Victorian NPL – one of several regional competitions that sit below A-League Men – will now face either the Newcastle Jets or their local rivals Avondale in the decider on October 4. Those two teams meet in the other semifinal on Sunday.
A rush of blood to the head from goalkeeper Michael Woud that left him stranded in no man’s land contributed to Auckland going behind in the 75th minute.
Heidelberg’s Japanese midfielder Asahi Yokokawa played a ball with the outside of his foot that pitted their South Sudanese striker Bul Juach in a foot race with Auckland centre back Dan Hall.
Woud came rushing off his line to meet them just outside the box on the left but couldn’t get to the ball in time.
With Woud stranded, Juach took full advantage, holding off Hall as he ran into the box before finishing into an empty net.
Yokokawa went from provider to scorer for Heidelberg’s second goal nine minutes later, after Hall lost track of him when he made a run in behind.
Left free in plenty of space in the box, he slotted his shot calmly through Woud’s legs to put his side two goals to the good.
Auckland had created plenty of chances before falling behind and Cam Howieson forced Heidelberg goalkeeper Yaren Sözer to make a flying save once they found themselves chasing two late goals.
Marlee François had come closest to giving Auckland the lead, hitting the crossbar with a shot in the 41st minutes when the ball came his way after a Guillermo May effort was blocked.
Woud had done well to come forward and deny Juach early and was largely unneeded until the ugly mix-up with 15 minutes to play.
His error of judgement in the lead-up to Heidelberg’s first goal will raise questions as to whether he is the best option to replace two-time A-League Men player of the year Alex Paulsen in goal, especially now that Oli Sail – a fellow All White – is on Auckland’s books.
When they beat Sydney FC in a penalty shootout to win their quarterfinal last Saturday, Auckland had been expecting to have the better part of a month before their semifinal.
The semifinals had originally been scheduled for September 13 and 14, but that clashes with the Victorian NPL final Heidelberg and Avondale are on track to meet each other in, if they win semifinals scheduled for next weekend.
The semifinals were officially brought forward to this weekend only on Monday, much to Auckland’s frustration.
Look back at live coverage of the match via Tribe below