The end of Round 5 in Fiji signalled the culmination of the regular season and confirmation of the clubs who will make-up the Leaders and Challengers Groups for the inaugural OFC Pro League.
14 matches, including two rescheduled Round 3 fixtures, took place during the competition’s stay in Fiji, as all eight clubs battled for crucial positions.
As it turned out, the race for a spot in the top four came down the very last match of the regular season, with Bula FC and South Island United joining league leaders Auckland FC and South Melbourne FC in the Leaders Group.
Round Review
Playing in front of a home crowd for the first time, Bula FC played all three of their fixtures at the newly refurbished 4R Electrical Govind Park in Ba.
They opened their account with a 1-0 win over PNG Hekari FC, before confirming their spot in the Leaders Group with their best result of the season to date – a 2-1 victory over league leaders Auckland FC in their final game.
Auckland themselves wrapped up top spot for the regular season with a come-from-behind 3-2 win over South Melbourne FC, and recovered from the Bula defeat to beat South Island United in the second North v South Island New Zealand derby of the season.
South Melbourne FC finished close behind in second, despite two defeats in Fiji, as they continue to manage their workload with their domestic NPL Victoria commitments ahead of the finals.
Elsewhere, the race for a top four spot proved incredibly tight. Seven points from three matches, including an impressive 5-1 win over Solomon Kings FC in Suva, kept Tahiti United right in the hunt for a Leaders Group spot.
The Kings and South Island United both defeated Vanuatu United FC, setting up a decisive fixture on the final day of play in Suva. It was South Island United who came from behind to prevail, Rovu Boyers coming off the bench to score the winner.
South Island United’s defeat to Auckland FC in their rescheduled Round 3 fixture kept Tahiti United in contention, but the latter fell to an 8-1 defeat to South Melbourne in the final regular season match, ensuring both New Zealand clubs made the top four.
Moments that Mattered
Krishna scores on home soil to confirm Leaders Group spot
Playing in front of a home crowd for the first time, Bula FC locked in a top four spot and a place in the Leaders Group with two wins from their three fixtures in Ba.
Fiji’s all-time top goalscorer and appearance-holder, Roy Krisha marked the special homecoming with the ultimately decisive second goal in an impressive 2-1 victory over Auckland FC in their third and final game. Krishna paid homage to his former Fijian international teammate Tuimasi Manuca with his celebration, following Manuca’s passing just two days prior to the match.
Bula FC now turn their attention to the Leaders Group in Auckland, where they should be confident of securing a semi-final slot.
Haewegene hat-trick
New Caledonian international Germain Haewegene scored the second hat-trick of the OFC Pro League during Tahiti United’s 5-1 win over Solomon Kings FC in Suva.
All three of his goals came in the second half as the forward increased his goal tally for the season to six at the end of Round 5.
Unfortunately, a damaging 8-1 defeat to South Melbourne FC cut Tahiti United’s top four hopes short, and they’ll have to pick themselves back up for the Challengers Group in Auckland after a disappointing result.
PNG Hekari FC get second win
A poor regular season finished on an unlikely high for PNG Hekari FC in Ba, upsetting South Melbourne FC 2-1 for just their second win of the campaign.
The departure of Marcos Gusmaõ and two Brazilian players early may have derailed their top four hopes, but they showed more fighting spirit in Round 5, with Ati Kepo scoring in second half stoppage-time to claim the dramatic victory.
Jerry Allen will be hoping to build on that winning feeling in Auckland where PNG Hekari FC may have the opportunity to avoid the wooden spoon in their first season if they can pick up more positive results in the Challengers Group.
Auckland FC lock in top spot at end of regular season
Leaders from start to finish for much of the OFC Pro League season, Auckland FC secured top spot with 32 points from their 14 games.
In Fiji they picked up nine points from four games, including confidence-boosting wins over rivals South Melbourne FC and South Island United, despite suffering just their second loss of the campaign to Bula FC.
The job is far from done though. Luke Casserly’s side will still have to negotiate the Leaders Group and the following finals series if Auckland FC are to lift the inaugural OFC Pro League title on home soil at Eden Park.
South Island United cling on to top four
Having dropped out of the top four in Honiara, South Island United just about secured themselves a Leaders Group spot in Fiji, albeit rather anxiously.
Two late stoppage-time goals secured a stunning comeback win over Vanuatu United FC in their first game of Round 5, before they did the same in a 2-1 win over Solomon Kings FC – Rovu Boyers coming off the bench to score the winner.
Defeat to Auckland FC meant Tahiti United could still surpass them on the final day of the regular season, but the Francophone club failed to take advantage, as South Island United held onto fourth place on the table.
Looking ahead
The competition now heads to Auckland for Round 6, where the eight clubs have been split into two groups of four. The Leaders Group is made up of Auckland FC, South Melbourne FC, Bula FC, and South Island United, whilst the Challengers Group comprises Solomon Kings FC, Tahiti United, Vanuatu United FC and PNG Hekari FC.
The top three teams from the Leaders Group will advance to the semi-finals, whilst the top-ranked side from the Challengers Group will play the fourth-ranked Leaders Group team for the remaining semi-final spot.
The winner of the inaugural OFC Pro League will be crowned at Eden Park on May 24.