Auckland FC rescue point thanks to Sydney FC’s stoppage-time own goal but suffer derby suspension blow

Tuesday, 17 February 2026

Logan Rogerson and Nando Pijnaker of Auckland FC celebrate their late equaliser against Sydney FC.

At Leichardt Oval, Sydney: Sydney FC 1 (Alexandar Popovic 84’) Auckland FC 1 (Alex Grant (own goal) 90’+5). HT: 0-0

Auckland FC won’t have striker Sam Cosgrove in their ranks for Saturday’s third New Zealand derby of the season, after he received his fifth yellow card of the campaign in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw away to Sydney FC.

Ten days after beating Sydney 1-0 at home in a match where they should have scored four or five, Auckland started slow and looked to have been punished late, when Alexandar Popovic headed home a cross from Piero Quispe following a corner in the 85th minute.

Almost out of nowhere, they rescued a point, when Sydney conceded an own goal in the fifth minute of stoppage-time, one of their defenders– Jordan Courtney-Perkins – kicking into another – Alex Grant – right in front of the line, with the ball deflecting into the top of the net.

While they will consider it a point gained, given where they were at the 90-minute mark, Auckland have won just two of their eight matches since the start of 2026 and will now be down a key figure away to Wellington Phoenix on Saturday

The home team at Leichardt Oval on Tuesday were outraged Englishman Cosgrove wasn’t booked – or even sent off – for what appeared to be a stomp on midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler midway through the first half.

But close analysis of replays showed he had been looking to control the ball, only for Okon-Engstler to kick it into him, moving his leg in the process, and that it was not an intentional stomp.

An early yellow card for Cosgrove’s recklessness might still have been warranted, but it came eventually on a night where he cut a frustrated figure.

Sydney had the first chance three minutes in, when Tiago Quintal rode a challenge from Felipe Gallegos on the edge of the box and fired off a shot that Michael Woud had to parry away at his left post.

Joe Lolley of Sydney FC and Francis de Vries of Auckland FC compete for the ball.

Sydney’s Spanish forward Víctor Campuzano was busy in the early exchanges, firing a shot straight at Woud from the top of the box, having another deflected out for a corner, then hitting another one straight at Woud from the ensuing corner.

Auckland’s first real opportunity fell to left back Francis de Vries, who felt he wasn’t going to succeed with his left but sent his right-footed attempt wide of the right post.

The Cosgrove-Okon-Engstler flare-up was followed by a penalty shout for Sydney, after Jake Girdwood-Reich won the ball off Apostolos Stamatelopoulos with a strong challenge in the box. No spot kick was awarded.

Cosgrove stumbled as he tried to enter the box to receive a ball from Marlee Francois on the right and could only poke his effort wide of the left post.

Lachie Brook then went long looking for All White Jesse Randall, whose shot from the right was fumbled out for a corner by Harrison Devenish-Meares in the Sydney goal.

The half ended with Auckland centre back Dan Hal entering the box on the left and firing a fierce effort at Devenish-Meares that he couldn’t gold.

All White Logan Rogerson entered for Francois at halftime and almost became an instant hero, but couldn’t make contact with the ball when a cross from Randall on the left came to him right in front of an open goal.

After Cosgrove went into the referee’s book following a foul on Popovic – and was duly hooked – Auckland had to be alert in their box to clear when Ben Garuccio crossed for Quintal.

Woud made his best save of the night to deny Stamatelopoulos as he ran into the box on the right. Rhyan Grant then headed wide from the corner that followed.

Popovic rose between Hall and Louis Verstraete before sending his header into the bottom-right corner, with Woud unable to do anything about it, then had to wait while a lengthy video assistant referee check took place and eventually gave it a thumbs up.

Substitute centre back Nando Pijnaker was moved up front as Auckland chased an equaliser and was involved along with Rogerson in putting Sydney under pressure before they conceded their late own goal.

A Pijnaker header from a Guillermo May cross was saved by Devenish-Meares and te ball was falling to Rogerson before Courtney-Perkins intervened with an unfortunate result.

Auckland have a perfect 5-0 record in New Zealand derbies so far, but will have to adjust in the absence of Cosgrove, who has started up top in all 17 of their matches so far this season, scoring eight goals.