A brace on debut from Lachlan Bayliss has helped Auckland FC get their A-League Men title defence off to a winning start, as they defeated Melbourne City 3-1 at home.
Returning to Mt Smart Stadium to celebrate their first-ever title win with 20,635 fans, it was Bayliss, one of Auckland's new signings, who introduced himself in style on Saturday afternoon.
Tapped to start by Pedro Moreira, who replaced Steve Corica as coach after the latter's move to J1 League side Yokohama F Marinos, Bayliss first struck with a highlight-reel blast in the 35th minute.
The Kiwi international then netted again in the 53rd, restoring the hosts' lead after Quinn Macnicol's equaliser, before Lachlan Brook removed all doubt with an 85th-minute dagger.
Still yet to lose a round-one game in their three-year history, Auckland will travel to face Western Sydney next week, while City will lick their wounds ahead of a Melbourne derby against the Victory.
A back-and-forth contest begging for a moment of inspiration, Bayliss pounced on an errant pass from Besian Kutleshi and drove a first-time bomb from 35 yards out to bring it to life half an hour in.
The better side to then, it gave City the impetus to produce a moment of class themselves, as a 42nd-minute square ball from Kavian Rahmani teed up MacNicol to fire into the bottom corner for 1-1.
The contest was largely defined by muscle before the goals, with a late challenge from Jake Brimmer on MacNicol sparking an all-in shoving contest that saw Sam Cosgrove and Aziz Behich booked.
But a quick transition soon after halftime put Auckland back ahead, as City's headed clearance of a Hiroki Sakai cross sat up perfectly for Bayliss.
Brook then cut inside and curled in a shot from atop the box to ensure the result late on.