Auckland FC tightened their stranglehold over Wellington Phoenix with a wild 3–1 derby victory at Go Media Stadium, featuring four goals, two saved penalties and a red card before a crowd of nearly 23,000.
The Black Knights struck early through Lachlan Brook, before Phoenix defender Manjrekar James was sent off minutes into the second half, sparking a frantic spell.
Wellington captain Alex Rufer briefly hauled his side level with a stunning half-volley, but Auckland regained control as Phoenix keeper Josh Oluwayemi produced multiple heroic saves, including two penalty stops.
However, Francis de Vries eventually converted from a rebound to restore Auckland’s lead, and Guillermo May sealed the result late on.
The win keeps Auckland perfect in derby clashes and returns them to the top of the table, while Wellington remain mired in inconsistency, still waiting for their first derby triumph.
It happened again. 🤷♂️🥱
⚔️ AKL 3-1 WEL 🟡 (90’)#AKLvWEL pic.twitter.com/JtQXqqMbEk
— Auckland FC (@fc_auckland) December 6, 2025
