OFC football: Kiwis dominate Vanuatu and Fiji clubs

The two New Zealand sides in the OFC Pro League claimed wins on Friday, as the rain eased off and matches continued at the North Harbour Stadium.

South Island United, who lost their first match to Auckland City last Saturday at Eden Park, managed to secure their first win, a 2-1 scoreline over Vanuatu United in the first game on Friday afternoon.

Auckland City took the field later last evening and ended the game celebrating again, with their third win in the first round sealed, this time a 1-0 victory over Fiji's Bula FC.

South Island's win gives them some headway heading into the second round of the competition in Papua New Guinea.

With a game still to play in the first round, as a result of the heavy downpour and stormy weather that hit Northland in the past week, the South Islanders will be hoping their win will boost their momentum going forward.

Auckland, meanwhile, are the outright competition leaders at the moment, securing a clean record with three wins from as many matches.

South Island coach welcomes win

South Island coach Rob Sherman said he was pleased with the win and hopes the team can continue building from that result.

"Obviously great start," he said post-match.

"Generally we had opportunities. Ultimately close game and thanks to them [Vanuatu United] they came back and had a goal."

Sherman, who coached Fiji previously, said improving on their game will be the focus moving forward.

"A bit of times we could have got the ball down and we could have moved the ball a bit quicker," he added.

Two goals inside the first ten minutes put South Island United in the lead, taking a 2-0 scoreline into the breather.

It took just four minutes for Ryan Feutz to open the scoring, lapping onto a ball from Ollie Van Rijssell, before sending that past Vanuatu United keeper Matt Acton.

That was to be South Island's first goal in the new league.

Shortly after a Ry McLeod and David Yoo combination provided the opportunity for Haris Zeb to finish off from the top of the penalty box.

Vanuatu United made seven changes to the starting eleven that lost to Auckland City on Tuesday evening and they were hard on the attack early, forcing South Island goalkeeper Steven van Dijk to make two crucial saves in the first half.

He pumped off William Cardona's long shot and denied Azariah Soromon in a one-on-one situation.

Vanuatu coach Lars Hopp made changes to his side and that paid off when substitute Alex Saniel nodded a header past Van Dijk and into the top-left corner of the net in the 67th minute for his side's goal.

That saw the side throw in more energy into their attacks upfront, with Cardona, who was later named 'Player of the Match', firing one over the crossbar and Saniel also missing one.

A foul inside the box then denied what could have been Vanuatu United's equaliser in the game, after the video assistant referee [VAR] showed a Vanuatu player had fouled South Island United's Christian Gray.

That meant the 86th minute goal by Owen Smith was denied, and South Island went on to win the clash.

Vanuatu coach Hopp said the VAR decision was questionable too, especially the time taken to confirm the decision.

He said they will continue working and be ready for the next game, with the need to be consistent throughout their games.

"The first half today was not good," he said.

"The overall work rate, the intensity was not what we expect from our group and we made that clear at half-time.

"The second half was much better. Still many games to come and I think this is a good learning group."

Vanuatu United will face Tahiti United in their first game of the second round in Port Moresby on Saturday, 31 January.

Auckland holds on

In the second game of the day, Fiji's Bula FC threw everything into the game but could not find the equalizer, after Auckland City had taken an early 1-0 lead in the game.

Midfielder Daniel Normann scored early and that was enough, as they turned defensive and stopped every opportunity Bula FC had.

Luke Casserly's side reverted to the same starting eleven which helped them past South Island United in their season opener.

That meant they made nine changes in total to the side that defeated Vanuatu United FC.

Casserly kept his main players, Reid Drake and Normann, playing in all three matches so far and the duo proved to be the difference in all three games.

They combined in the 12th minute of the game to score, with Normann slotting the ball inside the bottom-right corner of the net, following a corner delivery into the box from Drake.

Winning goalscorer, Normann said he was happy to have scored the goal.

"Amazing feeling, we kinda practise alot at the training ground," he said.

"We run for each other, great unity in the team and as a group we got the win today."

The match also featured the Gillion brothers - Liam who was on for the Auckland FC, and Fergus for Bula FC.

The Fijian side had two good opportunities in the game to score.

First it was Fergus who had a chance in the 30th minute to score, following a good flank run by Trinidad & Tobago international Kaile Auvray down the left wing.

Fergus's attempt from close range sailed over the crossbar.

Then it was Nabil Begg, whose equaliser early in the second half was ruled out by the VAR for an offside in the build-up.

Auckland also had a second goal ruled out after Everton O'Leary he caught a miscued clearance from Bula FC goalkeeper Didier Desprez to put the ball in the net.

But the VAR ruled he was offside.

Auckland FC were reduced to 10 men in the second half but Fijian striker Roy Krishna was closely marked and did not have any chance to strike.

Bula FC have just the solitary point from their opening day draw against Vanuatu United, while Auckland City have consolidated their place at the top of the points table.

Bula FC's Auvray said it was a tough game to lose but they will take the positives into the next match.

"I think it was a good solid team performance," he said.

"We had a lot of chances and we did not convert, myself included.

"That's how it is at the high level, you pay the price. It's unfortunate but I am still proud of my teammates."

Meanwhile, Saturday's matches will see Solomon Kings FC taking on Tahiti United, while PNG Hekari FC will face South Melbourne FC.