Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Joanna Guelas

Auckland beat Bulls, go top with fourth-straight win

A solitary Guillermo May strike has kept Auckland's perfect start to their debut ALM season in tact. (Jeremy Ng/AAP PHOTOS)

Auckland FC have continued their winning start to the season with a 1-0 win over Macarthur in Unite Round to take top spot on the A-League Men table.

Playing their first game in Australia, the expansion club extended their streak to four matches when Guillermo May scored in the 34th minute at Allianz Stadium on Sunday.

Two points clear of the pack, Auckland are the only team to have won all their fixtures.

Making the feat more impressive, Steve Corica's Black Knights have also kept a clean sheet across the opening five rounds.

"We're history makers," Corica said.

"If it's not the best defensive record, it's one of the best defensive records.

"(The win was) fantastic, especially the way we did it. We fought hard."

The Bulls remain seventh after their third loss, sitting outside the top six by three points.

Macarthur left-back Walter Scott paid the price for a poor pass in defence, opening the door for May to score in the first half.

Scott had intended for captain Valere Germain to receive the ball but Kiwi defender Francis De Vries intercepted to hand off to Liam Gillion and start the chain for their goal.

"A lapse of concentration led to their goal, which is something that I've been asking from our team - a bit of consistency and focus," Macarthur coach Mile Sterjovski said.

"Just to step up. To win the battles in midfield and all over the park.

"If we lift in all areas, if we communicate in each line, I'm hoping that we can get more consistency with players being switched on."

Kealey Adamson almost levelled the scores in the 67th minute but his long-range attempt went wide.

Ariath Piol, who nailed a stunning bicycle kick goal in the Bulls' 2-1 win against Sydney FC last round, tried his luck two minutes later but was denied by goalkeeper Alex Paulsen.

Macarthur enjoyed early dominance and were cheered on by a union of Bulls fans and Wellington faithful who stayed back from the previous fixture.

Piol had sounded a warning after earning a starting position in the Bulls line-up, flaunting his pace to easily outrun defender Dan Hall and unleash towards goal.

Had it not been for an impeccable save by Paulsen, Piol would have opened the scoring in the 17th minute.

Germain missed a chance to break the deadlock after a superb cross from Scott, his header just off target in the 24th minute.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.