Steve Corica's side are flying in their maiden campaign and their early-season spark has shown no signs of dimming after Moreno's late strike at CommBank Stadium on Sunday.
Auckland now sit in top spot, the unglamorous win over the Wanderers moving the competition new boys two points clear of Adelaide United.
Auckland coach Steve Corica celebrates with the players after his team's win over the Wanderers. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)
This was nowhere near Auckland's most polished performance in their short existence, but their habit of snatching late winners is becoming a hallmark of the ALM's newest club.Â
More than 40 per cent of Auckland's goals this season have come in the final quarter of an hour, and the last-gasp victory over the Wanderers followed a 99th-minute equaliser away to Adelaide a week earlier.Â
"That's the culture and the attitude of the players," Corica said.
"The way we work, the way we train, I think it shows by the end of the game we run over a lot teams.Â
"We score late goals, and that's just never giving up.
AUCKLAND FC WIN IT WITH 13 SECONDS LEFT ON THE CLOCK 🤯��— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) They've only gone and done it again. Unbelievable.Neyder Moreno: Super sub. #WSWvAKL pic.twitter.com/7XfCCvguSqJanuary 26, 2025
"It's becoming a habit, which is good for us but bad for other teams when you score that late because there's no opportunity to get back into the game."
It was unfortunate for the Wanderers, who looked to have hung on for a valuable point courtesy of some top-class goalkeeping from Lawrence Thomas.
In front of Socceroos coach Tony Popovic, the Wanderers captain delivered what was close to his best performance of the past 12 months.Â
Western Sydney's Lawrence Thomas turned on a display of top-class goalkeeping against Auckland. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)
The depleted home side were without Brandon Borrello due to a hamstring injury, and were so short of defenders that central midfielder Josh Brillante was deployed in Alen Stajcic's back four.
But Thomas stood tall for long periods, thwarting Max Mata with one spectacular save before Moreno struck home the late winner.
Dean Pelekanos failed to clear the ball and Auckland switched play to the left flank, where Colombian attacker Moreno was on hand to tuck the ball past Thomas.
Stajcic described the loss as "heartbreaking" as the Wanderers slumped to a third consecutive home defeat.
The side remain in eighth spot, four points adrift of the competition's top six.
"We've got no choice, we can lie down and give up or stand up and fight," the Wanderers boss said.Â
"We've got 12 games to go, we're on the periphery of the (top) six and we just made it harder for ourselves.
"We're still there with a massive chance and we've shown we can compete with everyone and we've got to get up and fight."Â
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