Auckland City came from behind to beat Central Coast FC 2-1, extending their OFC Champions League unbeaten run to 28 games
A brace of goals within two minutes of each other saw Auckland City come from behind to defeat a gallant Central Coast FC 2-1, taking their OFC Men’s Champions League unbeaten streak to 28-games in a pulsating Group A contest at Churchill Park in Lautoka.
Spanish midfielder Gerard Garriga and late substitute Ryan De Vries netted within 120 seconds of each other as the match headed towards its final dozen minutes, overturning a Central Coast FC lead that was thoroughly deserved after a scintillating attacking performance from the Solomon Islands outfit.
Auckland City fired the first shot in anger after just ten minutes as Czech midfielder Pavel Osmancik thrashed a shot over the bar from the edge of the area, but it was the team from the Solomons who had the best opportunity of the opening quarter of the fixture.
Twenty minutes in the pre-tournament favourites were guilty of dawdling in defence a Nathan Rostron was robbed inside his own area. The ball fell kindly for Solomon Islands international Rafa Lea’i who might have done better than crack a shot over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.
Hudyn Irodao then drew a fine save from City ‘keeper Matthew Foord as Central Coast flexed their attacking muscles. At the other end, Erick Wanega was largely unemployed while just before half-time Lea’i went close again, smashing a shot over when well picked out by a sublime pass from Irodao.
With no goals at the break the initiative was there to be seized in the second half, and Lea’i had the ball in the net seven minutes after the resumption for Central Coast, the offside flag denying the lively attacker the breakthrough.
It was no surprise that when the deadlock was finally broken just before the hour mark that Lea’i played a major role. Bursting behind the flat-footed Auckland City defence, Lea’i kept his cool and laid off a perfect pass to the onrushing Bobby Leslie who took aim and rammed a low first-time shot past Foord into the bottom corner from the top of the penalty area.
Having only lost nine of their previous 116 OFC Men’s Champions League matches, Auckland City found themselves in an unusual position and suddenly upped the tempo as they sought an equalising goal. And it came twelve minutes from time as Wanega pushed away an Osmancik shot into the path of Gerard Garriga who tapped home.
Two minutes later Auckland City were ahead. Michal Doudera made inroads down the left side of the pitch and swung in a delicious cross that was met by a second substitute, Ryan De Vries, who volleyed home from close range to turn the match on its head and lead the New Zealanders to the win.
SOURCE//: OFC MEDIA
