“It’s a great feeling right now especially following the way we got there, if I can say it like that,” a relieved Auckland City FC coach Ramon Tribulietx said following the match.
“I think we deserved it. We’ve tried to develop something over the last six years and when you put the kind of effort in that we have, life gives you some rewards and I think that’s what has happened here tonight.”
It wasn’t the prettiest of matches, as both coaches would attest, but had all the drama and tension of a grand final in what may be a preview of what could become a critical rivalry on New Zealand’s domestic scene.
If the shootout from 12 yards wasn’t enough, the game featured two spot kicks in regulation time, a red card to Wellington’s Chris Bale and the intervention of the woodwork in the second half.
It looked like Auckland started the stronger of the two sides and soon took the lead inside the first 15 minutes through Joao Moreira, the Portuguese striker converting from the spot to record his fourth goal of the campaign.
The defending champions looked to add to their lead as the half wore on, Ivan Carril pulling the strings from midfield and David Browne continuing to appear as one of the emerging stars of the tournament.
Takuya Iwata pushed forward down the left-hand side as Tribulietx’s side looked to exploit a perceived weakness down the flank.
However Wellington were determined not to their rivals get away from them.
They put on an altogether different challenge in the second spell, Calcott inspiring his troops to rally and force an equaliser.
As has been the case throughout the duration of the tournament, they looked dangerous from the set piece, despite the absence of striker Jarrod Smith due to injury.
Wellington looked the more likely throughout the second spell, though they endured a nervy moment after 50 minutes when Marko Dordevic’s header came back off the crossbar.
They took until the 79th minute to equalise; a Cole Peverley free-kick launched into the box found its way to Ian Hogg, and the former Auckland City player made no mistake with his finish.
It’s hard to say what was more emphatic – Hogg’s right-footed smash home or his subsequent celebration.
The men from New Zealand’s capital nearly stole victory in the final minutes of regulation time, Michael Gwyther’s first-time effort parried over the bar spectacularly by Tamati Williams.
Ryan de Vries had a chance of his own to steal the game in stoppage time but Michael O’Keeffe smothered his effort to send the final into extra time.
Wellington went all out in the added period; Bill Robertson, Justin Gulley and Gwyther each had chances in the opening five minutes, but Auckland had the golden opportunity to win it in the second half of extra time.
De Vries twisted and turned, made room for the shot and it came back off the arm of the goalscorer Hogg in the penalty area.
Chris Bale was dismissed in the fallout and it looked as though things were falling apart for Calcott’s side, but O’Keeffe dived to his right to palm Darren White’s spot kick wide.
O’Keeffe was in inspired form and denied substitute Gustavo Souto as time expired, before the referee blew full-time to send the match to the dreaded penalty shootout.
Luis Corrales and Angel Berlanga had their spot kicks saved, while Auckland and Wellington traded three penalties to send it to sudden death after four.
Up stepped Ian Hogg, whose eventful evening ended on a sour note, blasting his effort well over Williams’ crossbar.
All that was then needed was for Daewook Kim, a substitute himself, to slot home to ensure Auckland City a place in the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan – with the Korean midfielder up to the task.
While his side’s dream debut was finally halted by their domestic rivals, a visibly disappointed Team Wellington coach Matt Calcott was still proud of the overall performance of his side.
“I thought we did really well in the second half, the pressure we stepped up on them, it’s a bit of a lottery penalties and unfortunately they’ve gone through by the skin of their teeth,” he says.
And though the final result may not have fallen in his team’s favour the journey for Team Wellington has been a good one.
“It’s been a great journey, it’s been fantastic here. The Fijian people have been great, Oceania’s been great and it’s been a great tournament.”
Auckland City FC’s victory at the 2015 Fiji Airways OFC Champions League is their fifth regional title in a row, and seventh overall. They will now compete at the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2015.
In the individual awards the Fairplay Award was given to Suva FA, with captain Pita Rabo on hand to collect the trophy. The Golden Boot went to Ba FC and Fiji U-20 striker Saula Waqa, while Auckland City FC goalkeeper Tamati Williams took home the Golden Gloves.
The Golden Ball, for player of the tournament, was awarded to Auckland City FC captain Ivan Vicelich in recognition of his abilities on the field, as well as his leadership and presence.

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