Auckland FC are the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League Premiers after a 0-0 draw between Melbourne City and Adelaide United on Friday night knocked City out of the race for top spot.
City were the last team capable of catching Auckland by the regular season’s end but their inability to claim three points against the Reds left Auckland with an unassailable five-point lead at the top of the table.
Adelaide, meanwhile, have climbed back into the top six with the point gained against City in their final game of the regular season. Carl Veart’s Reds have a bye in Round 29 while Sydney FC, who now trail Adelaide by one point in seventh, have two games left to play against Western United and City.
Sydney need just one point from their remaining two games to jump back above Adelaide and eliminate the Reds from finals contention.
In need of a win to remain in the Premiership hunt, City looked to claim an early advantage at AAMI Park and almost went ahead as Marco Tilio and Max Caputo both threatened Adelaide’s goal in a chaotic goalmouth sequence.
Thirty minutes into Saturday night’s contest, disaster struck for Adelaide United when young striker Archie Goodwin, who came into Round 28 with an equal share of the lead in the Golden Boot race, hit the deck clutching his right hamstring.
Visibly distressed, Goodwin got to his feet and trudged off the field and was subsequently removed from the action by head coach Carl Veart in a blow to the 20-year-old’s Golden Boot ambition – and to Adelaide’s hopes of taking a point off City to keep their finals hopes alive.
Adelaide club captain Ryan Kitto had a chance late in the first half parried away by City keeper Patrick Beach as the hosts remained on level terms heading into the break.
More than an hour elapsed at AAMI Park without either side breaking the deadlock but, when Nathaniel Atkinson sent Andreas Kuen through in a one-on-one with Reds keeper Max Vartuli, it seemed certain the Austrian would fire Ctiy into the lead.
But it wasn’t to be for Kuen, who was denied by Vartuli as he attempted to beat the outrushing Adelaide gloveman.
City ramped up the pressure as Tilio sparked a rapid counterattack. Tilio found Kuen on the edge of the box, whose inventive flick set Yonatan Cohen free in the penalty area. Cohen’s shot had pace, power and accuracy but Vartuli came to Adelaide’s rescue with a diving save.
Soon after, City had the ball in the back of the net but not before referee Shaun Evans halted play for an offside call on Medin Memeti, who had strayed beyond the last defender before a heavy collision with Vartuli which left Adelaide’s goal momentarily unguarded for Cohen to fire the ball into the back of the net.
City youngster Lawrence Wong had a late chance to snatch all three points for the hosts but fired agonisingly wide from a tight angle as Adelaide held on to earn a point to remain in the top-six hunt.
