Tahiti United players dejected, as South Melbourne score the winner in their OFC Pro League clash. Photo: Supplied/OFC
South Melbourne defeated Tahiti United 2-1 in their first round game of the new OFC Pro League at Auckland's Eden Park.
Replacement Andrew Mesourouni scored the winner from a free-kick outside the Tahiti box, after he neatly sent the ball over the defensive wall and into the corner of the net.
That goal broke the deadlock, after the two teams were tied 1-1 late into the game on Sunday afternoon.
Tahiti United enjoyed a 1-0 lead at halftime, following a superb goal from Manaurii Shan from a free-kick outside the penalty box, the exact position Mesourouni scored the winner from later.
Shan curved the ball past South Melbourne goalkeeper Shalamanov-Trenakova and to the back of the net to lead 1-0 in the 36th minute.
Fijian import Tevita Waranaivalu combined well with captain Teaonui Tehau and Shan to hassle the South Melbourne defence.
Goalkeeper Jackson Gardner stood his ground between the posts, and linked well with Pothin Poma and Joseph Athaale in defusing their opposition's attacks early.
In the 44th minute, Waranivalu broke through from a counterattack, as Tahiti won ball from a corner-kick, and Waranivalu ran inside the box and played ball back to captain Tehau, whose shot was blocked.
South Melbourne celebrate their win over Tahiti United. Photo: Supplied/OFC
South Melbourne struggled midway into the first half, with frustration slowly coming to the fore, as Tahiti disrupted their plays.
Captain Marco Jankovic stood out in defence and worked hard to set up passing combinations from the back. Forward Yuki Uchida was caught offside a few times.
The Australians enjoyed some long throw-ins from Max Mikolla, but could not turn those into any real threats in the first 45 minutes of play.
Uchida scored at the restart of the second half, with a strike from inside the box, following a corner-kick, to level the score.
The ball stayed in the air for a while, but when it came to Uchida, he sent it straight through the defence to the back of the net.
Uchida, who was named 'Player of the Match', said Tahiti United were aggressive and focused on winning.
"We made the comeback, scored two goals and won," he said.
Losing coach Samuel Garcia was disappointed, but praised his players.
"We did a pretty good job in the first half of the game and really proud of the team showing the traditional Tahiti football in the OFC Pro League today," he said.
"We knew it would be difficult in the second half and we want to keep improving with more games."
Meanwhile, Auckland FC defeated South Island United 3-0 in the first-ever Kiwi derby in the OFC Pro League, in the second game of Saturday.
Oscar Faulds, Bailey Ferguson and Liam Gillion scored for the home side at a packed Eden Park. Faulds scored in the first half for the northerners to lead 1-0 at halftime.
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