A thrilling A-League match unfolded on Saturday, March 1, 2025, with Auckland FC and Adelaide United battling to a dramatic 4-4 draw at Go Media Stadium. The encounter was filled with stunning goals, penalties, and last-minute chaos, leaving fans ecstatic but also heartbroken.
Auckland FC took control early, with Guillermo May setting the tone for the match. Just ten minutes in, he broke free from the defense and delivered a stunning long-range shot, curling it past Adelaide goalkeeper Ethan Cox for the opening goal. Four minutes later, May struck again, this time scoring from close range after taking advantage of some confusion among the Adelaide defenders. "It was absolute carnage at the end of the match," remarked one sports reporter, encapsulating the chaos of the game.
Despite going two goals down, Adelaide United showed great resilience. They clawed one back just after the half-hour mark when Jordan Elsey forced the ball over the line from close range after Archie Goodwin's header from a corner flicked off the post. This goal reinvigorated Adelaide, allowing them to enter halftime with renewed hope, trailing 2-1.
After the break, Auckland appeared to extend their lead again when Logan Rogerson headed home from yet another well-placed corner by Francis De Vries. The home side's lead grew to 3-1, seeming to cement their hold on the match. But Adelaide, undeterred, continued to press forward.
The turning point came when Adelaide was awarded their first penalty of the match. A VAR review confirmed Louis Verstraete's foul on Ethan Alagich, prompting the referee to point to the spot. Zach Clough stepped up and slotted it home confidently, narrowing the score to 3-2. This ignited the Adelaide supporters as they believed they could mount another comeback.
This hope materialized just minutes later when Adelaide earned another penalty after Tommy Smith brought down Stefan Mauk inside the box. The VAR again played its part, leading to yet another penalty for Clough, who did not falter and sent the score level at 3-3. Auckland fans were left stunned as their side, who had led for most of the match, were now struggling to keep their composure against a resurgent Adelaide.
With time running out and the crowd rallying behind them, Auckland seemed to have snatched victory when captain Hiroki Sakai scored what appeared to be the winner with just moments left. Sakai finished smartly after initially having his header saved by Cox, putting the Black Knights up 4-3.
But the drama was not over yet. Bart Vriends, the Adelaide defender, capitalized on a last-ditch scramble in the final moments of the match and bundled the ball over the line for the equalizer, sending the away fans wild. “We fought hard to get back, and it shows our character,” Vriends commented, emphasizing the team's determination throughout the match.
This astonishing draw leaves Auckland FC holding onto their top spot with 40 points, eight points clear of second-placed Western United and third-placed Adelaide. Both teams left the pitch with mixed feelings: Auckland missed the chance to go ten points clear, and Adelaide fought valiantly to secure their position without losing ground.
Auckland coach Steve Corica described the match as challenging but felt proud of his team for their performance, especially their ability to score under pressure. “Our boys fought hard, and it was tough to see victory slip away,” he added, frustrated yet hopeful for the remainder of the season.
Adelaide’s coach, Carl Veart, praised his team's resilience, saying, “This draw shows the spirit we have. We didn’t give up, and it’s exciting to see how we can perform against tough opponents like Auckland.”
With eight games left this season, the race for the A-League title is still wide open after today’s incredible spectacles. Both teams will look to carry this momentum—or, for Auckland, this hard lesson—into their next fixtures.