MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Plenty wrote off owner Bill Foley's prediction that Auckland FC would hoist their first silverware within three years of joining the A-League.
On Sunday, 24,000 fans cheered at Mt Smart stadium as the expansion side raised the Premiers Plate for topping the table at the end of their first regular season.
Steve Corica's team became the first New Zealand team to claim the A-League's second-highest trophy and will hope to back it up with the title proper by winning the deciding Grand Final in a month's time.
"It’s been an amazing journey so far," said Corica.
"We’re not done yet ...(Western Sydney) Wanderers obviously won the Premiership before in their first year, so we want to try and top them if we can.
"It would be something really special if we could get the double."
The Black Knights' stunning first season has been a New Zealand story, with a core of home players combining superbly.
There was initial skepticism about New Zealand's appetite for a second team in the A-League to join the established Wellington Phoenix.
Those doubts were dispelled with crowds flocking to home games as Auckland won their first six matches, the best start by a first-season team.
Their derbies against Phoenix have drawn record crowds for regular season soccer matches in New Zealand.
Some 27,000 turned up to see them humiliate Phoenix 6-1 in February at their home in northern Auckland.
Eight points clear of second-placed Melbourne City, Auckland FC will hope to gain further momentum for the playoffs when they travel to third-placed Western United for their final match of the regular season on Saturday.
The Black Knights will then have a week off while they wait to see who they will face in the semifinals.
Corica said he would not rest any players for Western United.
"The momentum is good. We continue what we’re doing, and we try and beat Western there next week."
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
