It was always going to be tough facing the Jets, who have already beaten Auckland twice this season, and another win would see them go seven points clear, a margin which would feel impossible to make it.<\/p>\n
\u201cSix games to go, it\u2019s plenty of time,\u201d Auckland captain Francis de Vries told Sky Sport after the match.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously we were hoping for a win today, give reward [to] the fans that have shown up on a busy Auckland Sunday, but [we\u2019re] looking forward to the next game. We go to Newcastle, so that\u2019ll be a big one.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought we battled hard and especially after going down, we were in their half most of the time and pushing for the second then the third and [it] didn\u2019t quite happen today, but I\u2019m sure it will next time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both teams got off to a slow start, but it was the hosts who opened the scoring with the first chance of the game when the ball landed at the feet of Sam Cosgrove, who fired a shot from outside the box, which found the back of the net, his eighth of the season.<\/p>\n
Auckland should have had a second 10 minutes later, but Rogerson blasted the shot over the goal, and while their defence was suffocating Perth, it took the visitors nearly 40 minutes to finally get a shot.<\/p>\n
Shortly after, Perth levelled when Vanuatu international Brian Kaltack scored from a corner, outmuscling Dan Hall to score at the far post in his 100th A-League match, which saw the match locked up at 1-1 at the break. <\/p>\n
Cosgrove had the first chance to score to start the second half, but his close-range header was tipped over the crossbar.<\/p>\n
Stefan Colakovski scored one of Perth’s goals. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
But the visitors would end up silencing the Auckland crowd when Stefan Colakovski found himself unmarked in the box to smash it into the next, although he received a yellow card for his efforts, celebrating in front of The Port, which was to be expected from the former Wellington Phoenix striker.<\/p>\n
It didn\u2019t take long for Auckland to respond and level the match when De Vries\u2019 cross was hammered home by Cosgrove, although it wasn\u2019t initially given by referee Declan Woods for a foul in the build-up.<\/p>\n
However, upon further inspection from the Video Assistant Referee, the on-field decision was overturned, although it was credited as an own goal from Glory Keeper Matthew Sutton.<\/p>\n
Auckland had the better chances of both sides to close out the remaining 30 minutes but couldn\u2019t find a winner.<\/p>\n
Up next are the Jets, who claimed 2-1<\/a> and 3-1<\/a> wins over Auckland this season, while Sydney FC are also hot on the heels of the Black Knights, only three points behind in third, with six games remaining this season. <\/p>\n Auckland 2 (Sam Cosgrove, Matthew Sutton OG)<\/p>\n Perth Glory 2 (Brian Kaltack, Stefan Colakovski) <\/p>\n HT: 1-1<\/p>\n