Auckland stay top with win over Bulls, cop injury blow

Auckland FC have struck late to claim a 2-1 win over Macarthur FC and consolidate top spot on the A-League Men table.

But Saturday’s hard-fought victory came at a cost, with starting centre-back and Kiwi international Nando Pijnaker forced off the ground through an ankle injury in the 23rd minute.

Auckland enjoyed a dream start when Neyder Moreno scored in the ninth minute, but Macarthur levelled through Jake Hollman in the 19th minute.

Louis Verstraete nodded home a Frances de Vries corner in the 80th minute to give Steve Corica’s charges all three points at Go Media Stadium.

Auckland (33 points) are five points clear of second-placed Adelaide, who play Sydney FC on Saturday evening.

They have a two-week break before travelling to face third-placed Western United on February 15 and will hope Pijnaker’s injury isn’t too serious, given Dan Hall is already sidelined.

Verstraete will miss that match after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season late on Saturday.

Mile Sterjovski’s fourth-placed Bulls (24 points) missed a chance to go third on the table and could drop further, depending on other results.

The Bulls were playing their first game since Jed Drew departed for Austria, with Chris Ikonomidis starting, while Josh Damevski replaced the unwell Matt Jurman.

Auckland took the lead when Hiroki Sakai’s long throw-in was headed to the near post by a leaping Max Mata, with Moreno on hand to bundle home.

In the 18th minute, Auckland received a massive let-off when Moreno was ruled not to have fouled Ikonomidis inside the 18-yard box, when it appeared a stonewall penalty.

But the Bulls immediately shook it off, scoring less than a minute later.

Skipper Valere Germain made a super run to reach a wonderful dipping Marin Jakolis ball, forcing a save from Alex Pailsen, with Hollman arriving first at the scene to tap home the rebound.

Both teams defended desperately throughout the second half, but after Verstraete’s header cracked the Bulls’ defence, Auckland closed out the game in professional fashion.

Macarthur next face Western United at Campbelltown Stadium on February 9.