Auckland FC has used its underdog tag as motivation to pound Adelaide United 3-nil and make the A-League grand final.
The tie was deadlocked heading into the return leg across the Tasman, but Black Knights coach Steve Corica says his team was fired up by critics saying they couldn't win.
Auckland FC won the two-leg tie 4-1 on aggregate and will now meet the Newcastle Jets or Sydney FC in the grand final – a first-ever for a New Zealand men's club.
Striker Sam Cosgrove found the back of the net with a penalty, and told Piney in terms of a satisfying performance, it was right up there.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from NEWSTALKSB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Also on this side of the Tasman. Last night Auckland
FC made a little piece of history, the first New
Zealand men's team to make it through to an A
League football grand final.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
There is the final whistle history for Offlan FC. They
book a spot in the Azuzu A League Grand Final
and put the heartbreak of season one behind them and
go further than they've ever been before. Handshakes for Steve Corriker.
They've traveled to Adelaide a professional performance three nil on
(00:47):
the night, four to one on aggregate. They become the
first team in the Grand.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Final yep, and they'll be joined by either Newcastle or
Sydney FC. As previously mentioned, a three mil win against
Adelaide United in Adelaide, a two legged semifinal aggregate score
of for to one. Jake good would ri like Sam
Cosgrove and Logan Rogerson the goal scorers last night. The
team's about to fly home to Auckland to prepare for
(01:16):
the Grand Final, but Sam Cosgrove is with us on
the line. Congratulations Sam, massive result and your pardon it
was significant What is the feeling as you prepare to
fly home and get ready for an A League Grand final?
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Yeah, thanks Jason. First of all, home, I mean obviously
incredible note for everyone involved. As I said, an achievement
to get to the final, but not really the way
that we're looking at the moment. I think the achievement
for us will be winning the grand final. So yeah,
good night, good time has had by everyone afterwards, but
it's kind of straight down to business again and how
we're going to win the whole thing.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Though, going to Adelaide, which is hard any way. Winning
three nierl in a sold out semi final that is
some statement. Did it feel like Auckland FC's best performance
of the season for you?
Speaker 4 (02:03):
I think so in terms of a satisfying performance, it
was right up there. They went and did did the
perfect away job, you know. I think even in the
first leg we were good. In the first half, we
reacted well after a tough one hundred and twenty minutes
against City and then maybe just blew out running around
out of gas a little bit towards the end of
the second half. Yeah, in the game yesterday we were strong,
(02:27):
we pushed through and call him on the counter and
then just did a did a perfect job.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
I'd say, yeah, what were the keys? What were the
main messages during the week from Steve Corrick at the
coaching staff, the senior applies, what sort of you know,
what was the key to being so good last night?
Speaker 4 (02:45):
It just seemed as if everything clicked last night. The
kind of the message that the manager has been giving
us all season is that if we stayed compact, resolute
and don't concede, we're going to score goals. And that
was the case the case yesterday. As I said, it
was a perfect job done. I think I don't think
he could have written the script any better himself, the
manager if he could. But I think I think the
(03:06):
boys at the back were absolutely tremendous. That the back
three worked very well. Two wing backs Callen and Heroki
were upping down like rockets up the wing. And yeah,
as I said, we once we get that, once we've
got that one goal, that kind of calm the nerves
and I don't think we look back from there. I
think we were we were worth our worth, our three
nil in the end.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
So the second goal yours from the penalty spot. You
you won the penalty stepped up to take it what
you obviously had the penalty from the shootout a couple
of weeks ago, to to kind of draw upon what
are you What are you thinking as you're standing, you know,
at the top of your mark to take that penalty.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
Thinking this is what this is what I'm paid to
do score goals from these situations. But no, it was
it was actually nice to get a decision for once.
We don't usually get many of them, especially off the
Aussie refs and in Australia, So that was that was
nice to begin with. But I knew that I could
probably put the game to bed if I scored, And yeah,
I think that I knew the keep bug was going
(04:04):
to dive one way and if I hit it hard
and low, then the very worst is going to land
and I can I can get the rebound. But I
was I was glad to see it going to be fair.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Yeah, well Winter, because I couldn't quite tell the first
time whether it was just sitting on the line for
you to follow up or with a it had actually
dribbled across the line but on sick and look at ahead.
But I mean, you know what a moment for you.
I mean it must be. It must be very satisfying
to contribute and a match of that magnitude with a
goal on such a big stage and you know, and
and chalk up another one for the season in your
(04:34):
first season with Auckland.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Yeah, no, no, of course, very happy. I mean obviously
the getting the getting the golden boot for the for
the regular season was a good, good accomplishment in itself.
But as we said, kind of the aim was to
go on and win the Grand Final and the boys are
going to need my goals goals to do that. So
for sure, it's good to contribute on the score sheet,
but if I can still do it in other ways,
(04:57):
that's that's still my job and that's still what I
need to do. But it was it was a good
night around for a lot of boys last night.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
The other thing that stood out to me was after
you were tunal ahead. I mean a lot of teams
at tunl Up, you know, and two goals ahead and
the tie might sit back, might sort of you know,
invite invite pressure, but you still keep going forward. Is
that a is there a conscious decision to keep on
staying on the front foard and in defending in theirhalf
if you.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
Like the way things have gone this season. We've not
kept too many clean sheets. So I mean we did
say that once we get one, we once here and
once we get to we probably want three and just
kill the game and shut out. And I said, we
kind of know that if we if we keep that
compact base which you had yesterday, and we defend strong,
(05:44):
we've got the pace and the power up front. You've
got your jesses, your logans, your Lucky Brooks to come
on and go at a tiring defense. So we know
that we've got that threat there. So it's it's kind
of keep it shut up shot, but know that these
guys can cause a bit of damage as well.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
How much did you enjoy silencing the Adelaide crowd last night?
Speaker 4 (06:06):
Yeah, I mean their boys are a bit chirpy last week.
You know, the social media teams were a bit chirpy
in the week, maybe getting ahead of himselves. So stay
humble until you get across the line. So that was
that was a satisfying one for sure.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
So I guess we all cheer for SUDNEYFC, now do
we tonight? And then because if they win it's a
home grand final.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
Yeah exactly. I mean I think that in fairness, a
lot of the teams that have made the finals, they're
all very even so regardless of who wins, it's going
to be, it's going to be it's gonna be a tough,
tough ass But yeah, we're for sure we want to
we want to bring that home final so that we
can go get a packed outgo media and give the
fans one last hour before the end of the season.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Congreat to say them to you and the team. On
a tremendous performance last night, you've earned the team the
first of a Grand final. Travel safe, mate, have a
great week and we'll see you hopefully at home nexta today.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
Perfect. Thank you very much, Jason, No, thank.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
You, Sam, Sam Cosgrove there AWKFC strike a score of
the second goal last night, which helped his side through
to its first day of our A League Means Grain Final.
You'll remember, of course, Auckland FC got to within a
game of the Grand Final last year in the inaugural season,
couldn't quite get across the line, losing to Melbourne victory
across two legs last season. They have taken that extra
(07:19):
step this season and will play in the A League
Men's Grand Final next Saturday night, and just to reiterate,
we don't know where that game will be until after
tonight's second semi final, which kicks off at around nine
to forty New Zealand time at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.
The Newcastle Jets up against SYDNEYFC, and as I mentioned
(07:42):
a little bit earlier in the show, if SYDNEYFC win
that game, the Grand Final will be in Auckland. So
I guess for Auckland FC fans you're chairing for SYDNEYFC tonight,
it would be almost circular if a Grand Final was
between Auckland FC and Sydney FC. Steve Coricker, of course,
head coach of Auckland FC, was formerly a player and
(08:04):
a coach, winning championships in premierships in both capacities with
Sydney FC, So wouldn't that be strangely circular if it
was Sydney FC who he came up against in the
first ever Grand final for Auckland FC. If Newcastle win tonight,
then off they go to Newcastle. They finished top of
the regular season earned hosting rights for the Grand Final
if they make it, and so if they were to
(08:27):
win tonight then Auckland f C would head back across
the Tasman for the Grand Final next Saturday night time,
and those sort of details in terms of kickoff to
be confirmed.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, Listen live
to News Talk sed B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from NEWSTALKSB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Also on this side of the Tasman. Last night Auckland
FC made a little piece of history, the first New
Zealand men's team to make it through to an A
League football grand final.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
There is the final whistle history for Offlan FC. They
book a spot in the Azuzu A League Grand Final
and put the heartbreak of season one behind them and
go further than they've ever been before. Handshakes for Steve Corriker.
They've traveled to Adelaide a professional performance three nil on
(00:47):
the night, four to one on aggregate. They become the
first team in the Grand.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Final yep, and they'll be joined by either Newcastle or
Sydney FC. As previously mentioned, a three mil win against
Adelaide United in Adelaide, a two legged semifinal aggregate score
of for to one. Jake good would ri like Sam
Cosgrove and Logan Rogerson the goal scorers last night. The
team's about to fly home to Auckland to prepare for
(01:16):
the Grand Final, but Sam Cosgrove is with us on
the line. Congratulations Sam, massive result and your pardon it
was significant What is the feeling as you prepare to
fly home and get ready for an A League Grand final?
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Yeah, thanks Jason. First of all, home, I mean obviously
incredible note for everyone involved. As I said, an achievement
to get to the final, but not really the way
that we're looking at the moment. I think the achievement
for us will be winning the grand final. So yeah,
good night, good time has had by everyone afterwards, but
it's kind of straight down to business again and how
we're going to win the whole thing.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Though, going to Adelaide, which is hard any way. Winning
three nierl in a sold out semi final that is
some statement. Did it feel like Auckland FC's best performance
of the season for you?
Speaker 4 (02:03):
I think so in terms of a satisfying performance, it
was right up there. They went and did did the
perfect away job, you know. I think even in the
first leg we were good. In the first half, we
reacted well after a tough one hundred and twenty minutes
against City and then maybe just blew out running around
out of gas a little bit towards the end of
the second half. Yeah, in the game yesterday we were strong,
(02:27):
we pushed through and call him on the counter and
then just did a did a perfect job.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
I'd say, yeah, what were the keys? What were the
main messages during the week from Steve Corrick at the
coaching staff, the senior applies, what sort of you know,
what was the key to being so good last night?
Speaker 4 (02:45):
It just seemed as if everything clicked last night. The
kind of the message that the manager has been giving
us all season is that if we stayed compact, resolute
and don't concede, we're going to score goals. And that
was the case the case yesterday. As I said, it
was a perfect job done. I think I don't think
he could have written the script any better himself, the
manager if he could. But I think I think the
(03:06):
boys at the back were absolutely tremendous. That the back
three worked very well. Two wing backs Callen and Heroki
were upping down like rockets up the wing. And yeah,
as I said, we once we get that, once we've
got that one goal, that kind of calm the nerves
and I don't think we look back from there. I
think we were we were worth our worth, our three
nil in the end.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
So the second goal yours from the penalty spot. You
you won the penalty stepped up to take it what
you obviously had the penalty from the shootout a couple
of weeks ago, to to kind of draw upon what
are you What are you thinking as you're standing, you know,
at the top of your mark to take that penalty.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
Thinking this is what this is what I'm paid to
do score goals from these situations. But no, it was
it was actually nice to get a decision for once.
We don't usually get many of them, especially off the
Aussie refs and in Australia, So that was that was
nice to begin with. But I knew that I could
probably put the game to bed if I scored, And yeah,
I think that I knew the keep bug was going
(04:04):
to dive one way and if I hit it hard
and low, then the very worst is going to land
and I can I can get the rebound. But I
was I was glad to see it going to be fair.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Yeah, well Winter, because I couldn't quite tell the first
time whether it was just sitting on the line for
you to follow up or with a it had actually
dribbled across the line but on sick and look at ahead.
But I mean, you know what a moment for you.
I mean it must be. It must be very satisfying
to contribute and a match of that magnitude with a
goal on such a big stage and you know, and
and chalk up another one for the season in your
(04:34):
first season with Auckland.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Yeah, no, no, of course, very happy. I mean obviously
the getting the getting the golden boot for the for
the regular season was a good, good accomplishment in itself.
But as we said, kind of the aim was to
go on and win the Grand Final and the boys are
going to need my goals goals to do that. So
for sure, it's good to contribute on the score sheet,
but if I can still do it in other ways,
(04:57):
that's that's still my job and that's still what I
need to do. But it was it was a good
night around for a lot of boys last night.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
The other thing that stood out to me was after
you were tunal ahead. I mean a lot of teams
at tunl Up, you know, and two goals ahead and
the tie might sit back, might sort of you know,
invite invite pressure, but you still keep going forward. Is
that a is there a conscious decision to keep on
staying on the front foard and in defending in theirhalf
if you.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
Like the way things have gone this season. We've not
kept too many clean sheets. So I mean we did
say that once we get one, we once here and
once we get to we probably want three and just
kill the game and shut out. And I said, we
kind of know that if we if we keep that
compact base which you had yesterday, and we defend strong,
(05:44):
we've got the pace and the power up front. You've
got your jesses, your logans, your Lucky Brooks to come
on and go at a tiring defense. So we know
that we've got that threat there. So it's it's kind
of keep it shut up shot, but know that these
guys can cause a bit of damage as well.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
How much did you enjoy silencing the Adelaide crowd last night?
Speaker 4 (06:06):
Yeah, I mean their boys are a bit chirpy last week.
You know, the social media teams were a bit chirpy
in the week, maybe getting ahead of himselves. So stay
humble until you get across the line. So that was
that was a satisfying one for sure.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
So I guess we all cheer for SUDNEYFC, now do
we tonight? And then because if they win it's a
home grand final.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
Yeah exactly. I mean I think that in fairness, a
lot of the teams that have made the finals, they're
all very even so regardless of who wins, it's going
to be, it's going to be it's gonna be a tough,
tough ass But yeah, we're for sure we want to
we want to bring that home final so that we
can go get a packed outgo media and give the
fans one last hour before the end of the season.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Congreat to say them to you and the team. On
a tremendous performance last night, you've earned the team the
first of a Grand final. Travel safe, mate, have a
great week and we'll see you hopefully at home nexta today.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
Perfect. Thank you very much, Jason, No, thank.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
You, Sam, Sam Cosgrove there AWKFC strike a score of
the second goal last night, which helped his side through
to its first day of our A League Means Grain Final.
You'll remember, of course, Auckland FC got to within a
game of the Grand Final last year in the inaugural season,
couldn't quite get across the line, losing to Melbourne victory
across two legs last season. They have taken that extra
(07:19):
step this season and will play in the A League
Men's Grand Final next Saturday night, and just to reiterate,
we don't know where that game will be until after
tonight's second semi final, which kicks off at around nine
to forty New Zealand time at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.
The Newcastle Jets up against SYDNEYFC, and as I mentioned
(07:42):
a little bit earlier in the show, if SYDNEYFC win
that game, the Grand Final will be in Auckland. So
I guess for Auckland FC fans you're chairing for SYDNEYFC tonight,
it would be almost circular if a Grand Final was
between Auckland FC and Sydney FC. Steve Coricker, of course,
head coach of Auckland FC, was formerly a player and
(08:04):
a coach, winning championships in premierships in both capacities with
Sydney FC, So wouldn't that be strangely circular if it
was Sydney FC who he came up against in the
first ever Grand final for Auckland FC. If Newcastle win tonight,
then off they go to Newcastle. They finished top of
the regular season earned hosting rights for the Grand Final
if they make it, and so if they were to
(08:27):
win tonight then Auckland f C would head back across
the Tasman for the Grand Final next Saturday night time,
and those sort of details in terms of kickoff to
be confirmed.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, Listen live
to News Talk sed B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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