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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Soccer-Early Cohen strike earns Melbourne City A-League title in derby clash
* Yonatan Cohen's 10th minute goal wins title for City * City claim the A-League championship for the second time * Club previously won the title in 2021 MELBOURNE, - Melbourne City lifted the A-League Championship for the second time in the club's history on Saturday as a 1-0 Grand Final win over crosstown rivals Melbourne Victory secured the title for Aurelio Vidmar's side. Yonatan Cohen's 10th minute strike ensured the City Football Group-owned outfit shaded a tense all-Melbourne clash - the first derby meeting in the decider in the league's 20th season - to add the title to their only previous win in 2021. "The derby is always like this, it was always going to be physical out there," said City defender Nathaniel Atkinson. "We knew if we matched them with the fight, we could let our football do the talking, and once we got that goal we knew, with our defence, that we could keep a clean sheet." City weathered Victory's early pressure in front of almost 30,000 fans at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium to take the lead, Cohen reacting quickest to beat Jack Duncan from close range after Max Caputo's effort had come back off the crossbar. Mathew Leckie threw himself at full stretch to block a goal-bound strike from Victory's Zinedine Machach 10 minutes later to maintain the lead, and the Australia international was denied at the other end when his header was gathered on the line by Duncan. Victory, also runners-up in last year's decider, pushed to pull level before the interval, with City goalkeeper Patrick Beach diving to his right to save another Machach attempt while Roderick Miranda headed Daniel Arzani's freekick wide. Duncan had to be at his sharpest to keep out Cohen's curling effort from distance a little over a minute after the restart and, as the half approached the midway point, Caputo snatched at his attempt when he had the time and space to double the lead. Cohen should have put the result beyond doubt with 14 minutes remaining when, unmarked, the Israel international headed harmlessly across the face of the Victory goal. That miss was to prove academic as City kept their neighbours at bay to win the championship, having finished second behind Auckland FC in the regular season standings earlier this month. "It's really tough being in this position for two years in a row, but hopefully next year we can go again," said Victory captain Miranda. "They had one chance in the first half and scored and in the second half they defended really well. But this is football."
The Star
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Auckland coach Corica wants more of the same after first leg win
(Reuters) -Auckland FC coach Steve Corica called for another strong showing in the second leg of the A-League Championship semi-final against Melbourne Victory after the competition's newcomers secured a 1-0 win in the first leg on Saturday. As Corica's side seeks to become the first team from New Zealand to reach the A-League Grand Final, Logan Rogerson's 64th-minute goal at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium put Auckland in pole position ahead of the return next weekend. "Going into the home leg next week, we want more of the same," said Corica, who led Sydney FC to Grand Final success in 2019 and 2020. "They are 90 minutes away from getting into a Grand Final, which no New Zealand team has ever done. "We've created a lot of history throughout the year and this is another piece we want to add to it. It's the goal they set at the start of the year, to win the Grand Final. "That might've been a little bit silly, or people might have thought back then, but we knew we had a good team, we knew we were going to get better during the season and by winning the Premiership it shows we're the most consistent team." Auckland joined the A-League at the start of this campaign and have enjoyed a hugely successful debut, topping the table at the end of the regular season to claim the Premiership. The team's run to the semi-finals has been met by a spike in interest, prompting the club to add to the capacity of Mount Smart Stadium ahead of the return meeting with Melbourne Victory. The winner across the two legs will set up a Grand Final meeting with either Melbourne City or Western United, with Auckland due to host the season's finale should they progress. "There's going to be 30,000 next week, we've had more seats put in," said Corica. "That's how popular it is at the moment, and we want to make sure we give our fans what they deserve and that's a final. And a home final as well." (Reporting by Michael Church, Editing by)
Straits Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Auckland coach Corica wants more of the same after first leg win
Auckland coach Corica wants more of the same after first leg win Auckland FC coach Steve Corica called for another strong showing in the second leg of the A-League Championship semi-final against Melbourne Victory after the competition's newcomers secured a 1-0 win in the first leg on Saturday. As Corica's side seeks to become the first team from New Zealand to reach the A-League Grand Final, Logan Rogerson's 64th-minute goal at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium put Auckland in pole position ahead of the return next weekend. "Going into the home leg next week, we want more of the same," said Corica, who led Sydney FC to Grand Final success in 2019 and 2020. "They are 90 minutes away from getting into a Grand Final, which no New Zealand team has ever done. "We've created a lot of history throughout the year and this is another piece we want to add to it. It's the goal they set at the start of the year, to win the Grand Final. "That might've been a little bit silly, or people might have thought back then, but we knew we had a good team, we knew we were going to get better during the season and by winning the Premiership it shows we're the most consistent team." Auckland joined the A-League at the start of this campaign and have enjoyed a hugely successful debut, topping the table at the end of the regular season to claim the Premiership. The team's run to the semi-finals has been met by a spike in interest, prompting the club to add to the capacity of Mount Smart Stadium ahead of the return meeting with Melbourne Victory. The winner across the two legs will set up a Grand Final meeting with either Melbourne City or Western United, with Auckland due to host the season's finale should they progress. "There's going to be 30,000 next week, we've had more seats put in," said Corica. "That's how popular it is at the moment, and we want to make sure we give our fans what they deserve and that's a final. And a home final as well." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hindustan Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Soccer-Auckland coach Corica wants more of the same after first leg win
May 17 - Auckland FC coach Steve Corica called for another strong showing in the second leg of the A-League Championship semi-final against Melbourne Victory after the competition's newcomers secured a 1-0 win in the first leg on Saturday. As Corica's side seeks to become the first team from New Zealand to reach the A-League Grand Final, Logan Rogerson's 64th-minute goal at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium put Auckland in pole position ahead of the return next weekend. "Going into the home leg next week, we want more of the same," said Corica, who led Sydney FC to Grand Final success in 2019 and 2020. "They are 90 minutes away from getting into a Grand Final, which no New Zealand team has ever done. "We've created a lot of history throughout the year and this is another piece we want to add to it. It's the goal they set at the start of the year, to win the Grand Final. "That might've been a little bit silly, or people might have thought back then, but we knew we had a good team, we knew we were going to get better during the season and by winning the Premiership it shows we're the most consistent team." Auckland joined the A-League at the start of this campaign and have enjoyed a hugely successful debut, topping the table at the end of the regular season to claim the Premiership. The team's run to the semi-finals has been met by a spike in interest, prompting the club to add to the capacity of Mount Smart Stadium ahead of the return meeting with Melbourne Victory. The winner across the two legs will set up a Grand Final meeting with either Melbourne City or Western United, with Auckland due to host the season's finale should they progress. "There's going to be 30,000 next week, we've had more seats put in," said Corica. "That's how popular it is at the moment, and we want to make sure we give our fans what they deserve and that's a final. And a home final as well."
NZ Herald
29-04-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Wrexham FC to tour New Zealand in July, face Auckland FC or Wellington Phoenix
Wrexham Football Club are headed to New Zealand. Off the back of their recent promotion to the second-tier English Championship, the Herald understands the Welsh side will soon confirm a friendly match in July. It will be against Auckland FC or the Wellington Phoenix, as well as at least one and possibly two games against Australian A-League sides. Auckland FC appeal as the most likely opponents, given their recent success in lifting the Premiers' Plate in their inaugural season and with a chance to achieve a historic double if they can win the A-League Championship in late May. The Wellington Phoenix have previously hosted matches against United States glamour side Los Angeles Galaxy (with England and Manchester United great David Beckham featuring), Argentine icons Boca Juniors and Premier League sides West Ham United and Newcastle United.
