Source: Radio New Zealand
Rafael Durán scores for Macarthur FC against Auckland FC at Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland, 21 March, 2026. Photosport.nz
Auckland FC have suffered a shock 2-1 loss to the Macarthur Bulls on, a dampener on their chances of winning a second straight Premier’s Cup.
It was a result that the fans didn’t see coming. Auckland FC went into Saturday’s match in a rich vein of form with their brilliant 2-1 away win over competition leader the Newcastle Jets last week, which left them unbeaten in six matches, while sixth-placed Macarthur had lost their last four matches.
But they looked the in-form side when Rafael Durán put them in front in the 11th minute and even more so when Tomi Uskok soared to head home a pinpoint cross from Chris Ikonomidis just before halftime.
Auckland coach Steve Corica rang the changes to his lethargic-looking side at halftime, replacing Guillermo May, Callan Elliot and Felipe Gallegos with Lachlan Brook, Luka Vicelich and Louis Verstraete.
The attack was better, they created more chances, but the determined Macarthur defence held them out, until the third minute of added time when Jake Girdwood-Reich headed one in.
The now-urgent Auckanders quickly sought another goal in the last two minutes of added time to give them a draw, but Macarthur held them out.
Auckland FC trailed the Jets on the ladder by one point heading into this game, but the Jets get the chance to go four ahead when they play Sydney FC on Sunday.
Auckland coach Steve Corica was clearly unhappy with the effort.
“Last week that was probably our best performance against Newcastle, that was probably our worst,” he told Sky Sport.
“We let the fans down, we let everyone down today,” he said.
“We have given ourselves another tough hurdle to climb to the premiership.”
Auckland’s next game is against Adelaide United on Good Friday, 3 April, with three matches of the regular season left after that.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand