Heartbreak for Sydney FC as the A-League trophy heads across the Tasman for the first time

Auckland FC have claimed a historic A-League Men championship title with a 1-0 grand final win over Sydney FC in just their second season.

New Zealand international and club inaugural signing Cam Howieson was the hero at a sold-out Go Media Stadium in Auckland, firing the match-winner in the 60th minute.

It was his first ever A-League goal in 58 games for the club. 

Auckland became the first New Zealand team to win an A-League grand final, doing so in front of a raucous 28,374-strong crowd on home soil on Saturday.

A Sydney FC great, Auckland coach Steve Corica claimed his third championship after leading the Sky Blues to back-to-back titles in 2019 and 2020.

Corica is the first coach in the A-League men’s era to win three grand finals, with Ange Postecoglou winning two National Soccer League championships and two in the modern league.

Last year’s premiers Auckland are the third club in league history to win a grand final from outside the top two, having finished the regular season in third.

Howieson won the Joe Marston Medal, awarded to the best player in the A-League grand final.

More to come 

Auckland FC lift the trophy after becoming the first New Zealand team to win an A-League

Cam Howieson was the match-winner for Auckland with his 60th minute strike

Dejected Sydney FC players reflect on the heartbreaking loss