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AAP
AAP
Joey Lynch

Auckland down Western to continue ALM premiership push

Guillermo May opened the scoring as Auckland beat the Western United 2-0. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)

Taking lessons from their previous, painful meeting, Auckland have exacted some level of vengeance on Western United and taken another step towards a premiership in their debut A-League Men season with a 2-0 win at Ironbark Fields.

With the New Zealand side aware a loss could have them replaced at the league's summit by Adelaide, two goals on the stroke of halftime ensured Steve Corica's side would remain at least two points clear regardless of the Reds' result against Newcastle later on Saturday.

The result also achieved revenge for the 4-0 drubbing Auckland suffered against United last December, the expansion club's first defeat after a record-setting start to life.

"It was definitely something we touched on," Corica said of that history.

"That was our first loss of the season ... so we were disappointed.

"We didn't really turn up that day, and that was the most important thing for me – that we took out of that we need to actually compete."

Forcing a turnover inside Western's half, the visitors took the lead in the 44th minute when Guillermo May was given too much time to tee up a long-range laser.

They doubled their advantage three minutes later when Neyder Moreno got to the byline and cut the ball back for Max Mata to tap home.

Possessing the ALM's best defence through a league-leading 11 wins, Auckland can still dream of matching Western Sydney's feat of a premiership in their debut season.

That would also secure a first piece of silverware for any New Zealand side in the Australian top-flight.

"We've got another 10 games to go, so there's still a long way to go," Corica said. "But, obviously, we're in a very good position.

"We just need to keep doing what we're doing."

United fell to just their second loss in 11 games, with striker Hiroshi Ibusuki perhaps fortunate to escape sanction for an off-the-ball incident with Nando Pijnaker in the 50th minute.

Matthew Grimaldi slipped through Rhys Bozinovski in the 70th minute to create their best chance, only for Alex Paulsen to save at close range.

"Disappointed that we didn't get something out of the game," United boss John Aloisi said.

"But in terms of overall performance, I can't ask for much more."

With a visit from second-placed Adelaide coming next week, results elsewhere mean United have now fallen to fifth, and could be sixth if Macarthur defeats the Wanderers on Sunday.

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