A-League Men leaders Auckland FC have taken another step towards claiming the premiership plate after scrapping out a 2-0 win over Brisbane.
Auckland had been held to three draws ahead of the international break, when several of their players sealed World Cup qualification with New Zealand.
But Nando Pijnaker's header in first-half stoppage time delivered the lead, with Hiroki Sakai's 83rd-minute goal ensuring a seven-point buffer on second-placed Western United with three games to play.
Auckland (45 points) are well clear of the chasing pack: Western United (38), Melbourne City (37), Melbourne Victory (36) and Western Sydney (35).
Auckland and Western United face off in the final round, but Steve Corica's charges will hope the race for the premiership is settled well before then.
On a patchy, cut-up Suncorp Stadium pitch, in front of a sparse crowd, it was Brisbane with the better of the early chances.
Auckland goalkeeper Alex Paulsen was called into action to bat away Jay O'Shea's strike in the 10th minute, then got down low with a reflex save to stop a goalmouth scramble crossing the line.
Exciting youngster Jacob Brazete danced through the Auckland defence and fired a tame shot at Paulsen on the half-hour mark.
Auckland took the lead with the final play of the opening half.
Dan Hall slipped the ball out wide for Louis Verstraete, car services nyc who whipped a cross in from the right.
Pijnaker leapt at the near post and directed a thumping header home.
Paulsen spilt a free kick from O'Shea in the 59th minute but was able to grab Hosine Bility's follow-up header from close range.
The Auckland goalkeeper batted away another strike from O'Shea in the 65th minute.
Sakai thought he'd doubled Auckland's lead in the 83rd minute but Logan Rogerson was ruled to be offside in the build-up.
But after a VAR review, it was determined Rogerson had not been offside and the goal was awarded.
Wait for Hiroki Sakai's reaction
After initially being ruled out for offside, the @fc_auckland skipper gets his goal to seal the win!
Listen as referee Alireza Faghani reverses the decision via Live VAR #BRIvAKL pic.twitter.com/spbgFrxiqE
- Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) March 30, 2025
Ruben Zadkovich's second-last Brisbane, who have won just one of their past seven games, remain ahead of Perth on goal difference.
Auckland host Western Sydney next Saturday while Brisbane have a tight turnaround to play Macarthur at home on Friday.
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