Round 4 of the OFC Pro League has arrived in Honiara, Solomon Islands for the penultimate stage before the league splits in two.
Each club will play just two matches, with all eight fixtures across the four matchdays to be held at the stunning National Stadium.
Auckland FC remain atop the table, a point ahead of South Melbourne FC, whilst four teams are also separated by just a point from 4th-7th on the table.
Matchday Breakdown
The match-up between hosts Solomon Kings FC and league leaders Auckland FC highlights the opening weekend of Round 4 – a replay of Auckland’s only defeat of the season so far.
South Island United play PNG Hekari FC on the first matchday in Honiara, before Vanuatu United FC face South Melbourne FC and Bula FC clash with Tahiti United on Sunday, as the race for a top four spot heats up.
Melanesian neighbours Vanuatu United FC and PNG Hekari FC then take centre stage during the third matchday on Tuesday, against Auckland FC and Tahiti United, respectively.
Round 4 then concludes with two mouthwatering clashes between hosts Solomon Kings FC and South Melbourne FC, and South Island United and Bula FC.
Solomon Kings FC
Making history as the Solomon Islands first professional football club, Solomon Kings FC get the chance to play in front of their home fans for the first time during Round 4 of the OFC Pro League.
“We’re looking to forward to playing at home at the National Stadium. It’s an amazing facility and should provide a great spectacle,” says head coach Ben Cahn.
They’ve been the surprise package of the competition so far and sit third on the table but arrive in Honiara off the back of a 5-0 defeat to South Melbourne FC, and missing captain and first-choice goalkeeper Phillip Mango through suspension.
“This is a long-term project whether we win or lose. We want to play in a way that inspires the younger generation, and the team are working hard daily to continue to improve”
Auckland FC
Having played just two games in Melbourne, Auckland FC remain league leaders heading to Honiara, although just one point ahead of South Melbourne FC.
Auckland’s only defeat of the season so far came against Solomon Kings FC in the heat of Port Moresby, whom they face again in Round 4, along with Vanuatu United FC.
“We’re looking forward to what will be a great football experience here. We’ll be playing against a good team on a good surface, and we can’t wait,” said head coach Luke Casserly head of his team’s clash with the Kings.
South Melbourne FC
South Melbourne FC took advantage of home conditions during Round 3, winning two and drawing one of their three fixtures, including big wins over South Island United and Solomon Kings FC, to close the gap behind Auckland FC at the top to a point.
Juggling their OFC Pro League commitments with their local domestic league, the NPL Victoria, managing squad workload will come under the microscope in Honiara, where they play both Vanuatu United FC and host club Solomon Kings FC.
They are also the only unbeaten team left in the competition after three rounds and eight matches.
South Island United
Without a win from any of their three fixtures in Melbourne, South Island United arrive in Honiara clinging onto a spot inside the top four.
Head coach Rob Sherman emphasised the importance of squad depth prior to kick-off. “Every player needs to have a decent amount of time on the pitch, so that it’s not an initiation when they get called up,” he said.
Three clubs currently sit tied just a point below them, and Sherman’s squad could slip if they don’t pick up wins against either PNG Hekari FC or Bula FC during their two games at the National Stadium.
Tahiti United
Tahiti United were another club to press their claims for a top four position during Round 3, claiming four points from three fixtures, and sit equal with Vanuatu United FC and Bula FC on nine points.
They’ve had to travel the furthest of the eight competing clubs in the competition so far, but head coach Samuel Garcia is happy with routine his squad has developed.
“The team has adapted. The players have been able to spend time back home in Tahiti with family in-between rounds,” says Garcia.
Tahiti United face Bula FC and PNG Hekari FC during their time in Honiara – two teams they’ve already defeated this season.
Vanuatu United FC
The Chiefs found some momentum during Round 3, recording their first two OFC Pro League victories in Melbourne, both by the same 2-0 scoreline against Bula FC and Solomon Kings FC, respectively.
Those results meant they’ve climbed the table to within a point of the top four, joining Tahiti United and Bula FC in the chasing pack.
They’ll be attempting to build on that momentum in Honiara but face tricky tests against both of the league’s top two – South Melbourne FC and Auckland FC.
Bula FC
Inconsistency continues to plague Bula FC’s campaign, who picked up four points from their four matches in Melbourne, but suffered two bruising defeats to Vanuatu United FC and Solomon Kings FC.
“Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. There will be a time where results will become important, and that time is very close,” says head coach Stephane Auvray.
They face two crucial matches in Honiara against other clubs jostling for top four positions – Tahiti United and South Island United – and are also one of the three clubs equal on nine points.
PNG Hekari FC
PNG Hekari FC arrive in the Solomon Islands off the back of their most successful round of the season, claiming their first OFC Pro League victory in Melbourne.
They remain rooted to the bottom of the table with just four points after three rounds but could make some headway if they can record more positive results against either South Island United or Tahiti United in Honiara.
“It’s been a big challenge for us, but we are continuing to try and develop and improve. We are still building into the team we want to be,” says head coach Jerry Allen.
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