AAP Soccer

Auckland, Perth left to rue A-League Men draw

Mar 8, 2026

Stefan Colakovski. — Stefan Colakovski's goal has helped Perth to a 2-2 draw at Auckland. -AAP Image

Auckland FC have spurned a golden opportunity to keep pressure on A-League Men leaders Newcastle in a 2-2 draw with Perth Glory.

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English striker Sam Cosgrove's eighth goal of the season gave Auckland the early advantage in the seventh minute at Sky Stadium on Sunday.

Brian Kaltak equalised in the 39th minute, then Stefan Colakovski put the Glory in front in the 57th.

But Cosgrove's header four minutes later salvaged the home team a point.

Auckland (36 points) remain firmly in the hunt for top spot behind Newcastle (40), who they play next week, and are just ahead of third-placed Sydney (33).

"Six, seven games to go, it's plenty of time," stand-in skipper Frances de Vries told Sky Sports NZ of the premiership race.

"We obviously go to Newcastle, so that'll be a big one and we'll get prepared for that now.

"We battled hard, especially after going 2-1 down. We were in their half most of the time and pushing for the second and the third and it didn't quite happen today but I'm sure it will next time."

The draw leaves 10th-placed Perth (22 points), who next face Wellington on Saturday, four points outside the finals places.

"At the start of the season if you offered us a point away at Auckland, it's not a bad point," skipper Scott Wootton told Sky Sports NZ.

"But given the circumstances of the game, coming back from 1-0 down to go 2-1 up, I think we're a bit disappointed, especially with the position we're in to try and make the top six."

Steve Corica's charges opened the scoring when Cosgrove turned on the ball well outside the box then, with no Perth defenders closing him down, rifled home brilliantly from distance.

Auckland chased a second without reward, then Perth hit back against the run of play.

Adam Griffiths' Perth equalised when Luca Tevere's corner somehow bounced through the box and a diving Kaltak powered home a bullet header.

Almost 20 minutes later, Tevere slipped through Colakovski who finished first time on his left foot.

Colakovski ran to the Auckland fans and bench to let them know all about it, and was booked for excessive celebration.

Cosgrove's equaliser was initially chalked off, with the striker ruled to have fouled Scott Wootton when he jumped over the Perth skipper.

After a lengthy VAR review, it was ruled no foul and Auckland were awarded a goal, with Cosgrove joining teammate Jesse Randall (nine goals) on top of the golden boot tally.