Auckland thank their fans. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / www.photosport.nz
Less than an hour after the final whistle in Auckland FC's home semi-final loss, their imprint at a home venue they had so much success at was being washed away.
In front of 29,000 fans at Mt Smart Stadium the A-League Premiers were taken apart by a Melbourne Victory side that changed their formation and overcame the odds to win and seal a place in the Grand Final.
With Auckland's abrupt end to the season, the sporting landscape moved on quickly as groundsmen waterblasted away the football line markings to prepare the field for the Warriors' NRL game against the Canberra Raiders.
How quickly things can change.
A record-breaking professional football season like New Zealand had never seen before was over. A week before many thought it would be.
One piece of silverware was missing from the first year club's trophy cabinet.
The fans that had been around since the start of football's new era in Auckland, and those who jumped on the bandwagon when silverware was in their sights, would have to wait until next season to see if their club could win the biggest prize.
Auckland were the favourites to make the Grand Final. They had won on the road to set a platform for success at home, but Victory have been in many finals before.
The visitors, who were undermanned through injury, knew they had to win and they were prepared to do whatever it took to make it happen.
Auckland coach Steve Corica called out Victory's "time wasting".
He had even more to say about the referee's decision making.
His disappointment post-match was palpable. With a winning record over the season he had not had many times like this. Finding himself having to answer for what went wrong.
Auckland FC versus Melbourne Victory Photo: Shane Wenzlick / www.photosport.nz
The coach, who has had a lot of success over many years in the A-League, said he had no regrets.
He would not have changed the way they prepared or the calls he made on which players were on the field when.
Corica acknowledged it might have looked like the players were passive and sitting on lead from the first leg of the semi-finals, but he said that was not the case.
He said it was "unfortunate" they could not pull off another late goal that had been a trademark of their season.
Corica had spoken often over the season about the A-League Championship trophy being the one he wanted.
Having come so close to taking a new club to a place he had been before with Sydney FC, the ending to the fairytale season hurt.
Hiroki Sakai and Steve Corica celebrate with the A-League Premier's Plate. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
In the days or weeks to come Corica and the players can look back at all the things that went right in their first season.
Finishing top of the league and claiming the Premiers Plate, being the fastest club to score 50 goals in the 20 seasons of the A-League, setting records for unbeaten streaks and clean sheets. Creating an identity that fans got behind from the beginning.
Corica starting a club from scratch was a challenge - for all involved - but one that he felt the players and staff had thrived in.
Auckland FC owner Bill Foley is known for telling his sports team to 'always advance, never retreat'. Something the whole club bought into.
Corica would look to next season now. His goals would likely remain the same - silverware or bust.
"We come back next year ready to go to fight again."
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