Soccer-Auckland FC edge Sydney 1-0 to become New Zealand's first A-League champions

Cameron Howieson struck ​in the second half ​with a touch ‌of fortune ​as Auckland FC swept to a 1-0 Grand Final win ‌over Sydney on Saturday and became the first New Zealand team to clinch an A-League championship. Scoring his ‌first goal for Auckland in his 58th match, ‌midfielder Howieson's 60th-minute volley took a deflection on the way past wrong-footed goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares, sending a sold-out crowd ⁠at Mount ​Smart Stadium ⁠into ecstasy.

Auckland joined a select group of cross-border winners in ⁠world soccer, emulating AS Monaco, who won eight titles ​in France's Ligue 1 and Northern Ireland's Derry ⁠City, twice league-winners in the Republic of Ireland. Sydney had ⁠scraped ​into the Grand Final via a penalty shootout following a last-gasp equaliser in the semi-final ⁠against Newcastle Jets but there was no late rally in ⁠Auckland ⁠as their bid for a record-extending sixth A-League title ended in disappointment.

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