Waikato Rapids have maintained their perfect winning record at OFC Futsal Men’s Champions League 2025 with a statement 5-1 victory over Southern Legions FC at Vodafone Arena in Suva.
Both unbeaten coming into day three, Southern Legions took the lead, but were quickly overrun by the Rapids, who remain on top of the standings with three wins from three and nine points.
The result puts the Rapids in prime position to qualify for their first OFC Futsal Men’s Champions League final, who already sit five points clear at the top after the first game on the third matchday.
It took 13 minutes for the game’s first goal to arrive, Ritchie Stevens setting up captain Kemly Lehi to put Southern Legions ahead with a precise finish inside the bottom-right corner of the net on his right foot.
That sparked a response from the Waikato Rapids though, who scored two goals in two minutes to turn the game on its head. Hemi Innes struck a long-range bullet past Emmanuel Iopa following a giveaway inside the attacking half, before Casey Sharplin celebrated his 100th game for the Rapids by latching onto a long ball over the top of the opposition defence and rounding the keeper to put his team ahead in the 15th minute.
All three goals came in the space of just 125 seconds, as the Waikato Rapids took the lead to half-time following a wild first half finish.
It took just another 40 seconds at the start of the second stanza for the Rapids to score their third and pull clear on the scoreboard. Benjamin Bordin drilled another long-range effort past Iopa on his right foot, following a corner off the right flank.
The fourth Rapids goal came in the 23rd minute, Aran Carter linking with Davis Vhavha for his first goal of the tournament.
Southern Legions briefly rallied to stop the flood of goals but eventually faded away as Hemi Innes added the fifth with his second goal of the match and another long-range effort on his right foot in the 31st minute.
That was how the game would finish, with Southern Legions failing to replicate the impressive performance they managed to hold defending champions AS PTT to a draw a day earlier.
Waikato Rapids have now scored 18 goals at the competition and conceded just three. Both teams have a day off tomorrow, before resuming round-robin action on Thursday. The Rapids will open the fourth matchday with a mouthwatering clash with AS PTT, whilst Southern Legions FC will look to get back on track against Gulf Komara FC.
Southern Legions FC: 1 (Kemly LEHI 13’)
Waikato Rapids: 5 (Hemi INNES 14’, 31’, Casey SHARPLIN 15’, Benjamin BORDIN 21’, Aran CARTER 23’)
HT: 1-2
Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek