Auckland FC booked their place in the A-League Grand Final for the first time in just their second season with an emphatic 3-0 victory away to Adelaide United, sealing a 4-1 aggregate triumph in their semi-final.

Jake Girdwood-Reich headed home in the first half to set the tone, before joint Golden Boot winner Sam Cosgrove converted a second-half penalty to double the advantage. Logan Rogerson then wrapped up the result late on as the Black Knights shut out a sold-out Hindmarsh Stadium crowd and became the first team from New Zealand to reach the A-League’s showpiece final.

After falling short against Melbourne Victory at the semi-final stage last season, Auckland made no mistake this time and will now face either Newcastle or Sydney FC, who are locked at 1-1 heading into their second leg at McDonald Jones Stadium.

“I’m so proud of the boys coming here, we know this is a tough place to come,” said Girdwood-Reich.

“A lot of people wrote us off today. We showed we’re a great team.

“We’ve been really strong away from home this season and we backed ourselves to come here and win.”

Adelaide, who had held Auckland to a 1-1 draw in the first leg at Mount Smart Stadium, saw their hopes of a second A-League title—10 years after their 2016 triumph—fade as they were outplayed in midfield and exposed on the counter-attack.

Local winger Lachlan Brook endured a difficult return to his hometown, though his curling corner did assist Girdwood-Reich’s opening goal just before half-time.

Despite carrying injuries from the first leg, Auckland produced a disciplined and clinical display against a side boasting the league’s strongest home record this season.

After weathering early pressure, Auckland gradually found their rhythm and began to assert themselves with increasing authority.

Jesse Randall created their first real opening after 19 minutes, but his effort from inside the box was well blocked by goalkeeper Joshua Smits.

Auckland came close again to taking the lead shortly after the half-hour mark when Lachlan Brook struck a left-footed volley against the post after reacting quickest to a loose clearance following a long throw into the area.

Sensing control of the match, the visitors pushed forward in waves. Just before the break, captain Hiroki Sakai surged past Ryan Kitto and drove into the box, unleashing a powerful effort from a tight angle that Smits was forced to turn away.

From the resulting set-piece, however, Auckland finally made the breakthrough, as Jake Girdwood-Reich rose highest to direct a header beyond Smits and into the net just before half-time.

Cosgrove doubled the advantage in the 58th minute after being brought down in a tussle with Adelaide’s Panagiotis Kikianis as both challenged for a cross into the box.

He stepped up to take the resulting penalty and drove it straight down the middle, with goalkeeper Joshua Smits getting a touch with his legs but unable to keep the ball out as it trickled over the line.

Desperate to respond, Adelaide committed more bodies forward and began launching balls into the area, but Auckland stood firm and repelled everything thrown at them.

The hosts were eventually undone late on, however, when a long clearance sparked a swift counter-attack down the left, ending with Logan Rogerson sliding in to score Auckland’s third in the 86th minute.

“They set up a strong defence and were physically very strong,” said Adelaide centre-back Bart Vriends.

“I’m really grateful to everyone who came out today, but I’m very disappointed with the result.”