New coach Malcolm Fleming all but silenced his critics as the Otago side stuck to its game plan and kept scoreless a side that had averaged five goals a game before the weekend."
I could not have asked for more," Fleming said.
"The lads ran their socks off, tackled like terriers and kept going until the final whistle, when they were all hurting for sure.
Auckland is a class side and knocked passes around but rarely got a final shot at goal that was not contested by an Otago tackle or block.
"We closed them down well," Fleming said.
Whenever the ball arrived, so did an Otago player.
"We exerted relentless pressure on them to grab a well-earned NZFC competition point."
No-one tackled harder or put in more effort than the centre backs, captain Tim Horner and Chris Jenkinson, who did not miss a tackle or ball in the air.
The central duo allowed little space in front of goal, and when Auckland did manage to find some chinks of daylight, keeper James Waggett made a couple of superb saves.
The big keeper did well to sight shots coming through heavy traffic, and while he spilled a couple of high takes, Otago's defensive wall came to his rescue and cleared the ball.
Not that Otago was without decent spells of possession.
The team's fulcrum was Stu Kelly, who tackled hard, created space and settled play with astute passes.
Kelly also got forward several times and hit some early shots. Always keen to have a dig, Robbie Deeley laced a couple of shots that forced Auckland keeper Jacob Spoonley into action.
Leading the attacking line, Dave Dugdale showed great touch as a receiver, and no less effective was James Reichwein, Otago's biggest striker for some years, and he put his body on the line competing with internationals Ivan Vicelich and Greg Uhlmann.
Otago's young brigade matched the unbeaten Auckland side.
Tristan Prattley and Rhys Henderson guarded the flanks, Ryan Faichnie made some carving runs, Morgan Day displayed good technique and striker Mike Still made an effective, late appearance.
Otago's best chance came during a spell of pressure that produced a series of corners and free kicks.
At one stage, play resembled a rugby ruck close to the Auckland goal line as keeper Jacob Spoonley bravely battled on the ground while Otago boots flailed to force in what could have been the winning goal.
Auckland coach Paul Posa had no complaints.
"We did not create enough clear chances and found Otago very hard to break down. They defended very well," he said.
In other NZFC matches, Canterbury was beaten 1-0 by Waitakere, Manawatu hammered Wellington 4-0 and Waikato beat Hawkes Bay 4-2.
