A further test of the young Otago team's resilience was disappointing news from New Zealand Football before the kick-off that the competition point gained in a 2-2 draw with Wellington had been docked due to playing an unregistered player.
Initially, Otago gave as good as it got in steady drizzle.
Craig Ferguson made ground and delivered a good cross but former Otago keeper Liam Little fielded capably.
The best early chance fell to Darren Overton, and Mike Cunningham went past defenders but then overhit a promising pass to Regan Coldicott.
As halftime approached, Otago finished strongly with a free kick and corner that had keeper Little scrambling.
The second half started well, with Otago sparking. Liam Lockhart headed wide, then an Otago corner fell to Ant Hancock, who shot high.
Some sustained pressure by Otago set up Coldicott, but again the target could not be hit, and on the bounce Ian Hogg forced a save from keeper Peter Evans, spurning two supporting Auckland players.
Increasing pressure by Auckland needed a great tackle by Tristan Prattley to thwart Daniel Koprivcic, then Ferguson was in the thick of close range action, as he hooked the ball off his own goal line.
However it was the Argentinian they call Wichi, striker Tade who broke the deadlock after breaking through and beating keeper Evans in the 69th minute.
Otago then pushed players forward and Auckland exposed gaps and scored twice in the final minutes.
Fresh-legged substitutes Stephen Carmichael and Andrew Milne combined for the latter to score in the 91st minute, and Koprivcic made it 3-0 just before fulltime.
Otago coach Richard Murray said: "For most of the game they didn't hurt us, but after Tade scored, we had to give it a go."
"Starting without centreback Matt Joy did not help. He'll be out for six weeks, with a broken toe. But generally the lads gave what they had against an Auckland team full of imports and just back from the Fifa World Club Cup.
"Disappointing, too, that we lost that hard-earned point in Wellington, from an administrative blunder. Chasing a place in the top four, that could have been a critical competition point."
