Lachlan Brook has scored in a 2-0 win over his former club Western Sydney to help fire Auckland FC to the top of the A-League Men table.
The Black Knights broke the deadlock through Sam Cosgrove's 57th-minute strike, before former Wanderers player Brook sealed the deal in the 74th minute at CommBank Stadium on Friday night.
Last year's premiers, Auckland (6-2-1) lead the league by two points ahead of second-placed Sydney FC's (6-0-2) clash against Newcastle on Saturday.
Auckland are now on a three-game winning streak, while coach Alen Stajcic's Wanderers languish in ninth (2-3-4).
Friday's result was Western Sydney's first defeat at home this season and their third game without a goal.
Belgian midfielder Louis Verstraete had got the better of Wanderers defender Alex Bonetig to set up winger Brook's goal.
Brook, who played 23 games for the Wanderers across the 2023-24 season, had a subdued celebration out of respect for his former teammates.
The former Australian junior international had left the Wanderers for MLS outfit Real Salt Lake, before joining Steve Corica at Auckland this year.
"I still have a lot of respect and love for this club (Wanderers)," Brook told Paramount Plus.
"They took me at a time when I wasn’t playing a lot of football, and it kick-started my career again.
"I’ve got nothing but love for them, hence the no celebration."
Auckland substitutes Guillermo May and Luis Gallegos had combined to give the visitors their second-half spark, with the latter unleashing to Jesse Randall in the box.
Randall lost his footing under hot pressure from Wanderers defenders, but Cosgrove kept his wits to find the back of the net.
Cosgrove now leads the league's golden boot standings with five goals after nine rounds.
Western Sydney were unlucky to finish the first half without reward for effort on the scoreboard.
The Wanderers led by six total shots to one before the break, with half of those on target.
Western Sydney's first look at goal came through Kosta Barbarouses, with his sixth-minute shot spilt by Auckland goalkeeper Michael Woud.
Bozhidar Kraev pounced on the crumbs, but his kick went into the far post.
A dashing run down the left wing from Anthony Pantazopoulos in the 15th minute offered the Wanderers their next best chance.
Pantazopoulos' cross beat the feet of the Auckland defence, but Brandon Borrello couldn't pull the trigger from close range and Woud easily saved the ball.
