South Melbourne FC’s remarkable run in the inaugural OFC Pro League came to a narrow end on Sunday night, with Hellas going down 2-1 to Auckland FC in the Grand Final at Eden Park.
While Auckland FC made history as the competition’s first champions, South Melbourne leave the tournament with plenty to be proud of after a strong campaign that saw the club reach the deciding match of Oceania’s new professional competition.
The ledger had been evenly balanced between the two sides heading into the final, with both clubs having recorded one win each and a draw in their previous meetings. But on the biggest stage of all, it was Auckland who capitalised on key moments to edge the contest.
South Melbourne were backed by a passionate travelling support, with a planeload of fans making the journey across the Tasman to support Hellas in the decider.
Auckland opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when Daniel Normann found the net following a corner, despite the efforts of South goalkeeper Javier Diaz Lopez. The home side continued to push forward in the second half and doubled their advantage in the 72nd minute through Matt Ellis.
Despite the setback, South Melbourne continued to fight until the final whistle. Their persistence was rewarded deep into stoppage time when Arran Cocks delivered a pinpoint cross for Yuki Uchida, who headed home to give Hellas a deserved late goal.
Coach Sinisa Cohadzic’s side had entered the final in impressive attacking form, scoring 54 goals across their previous 18 matches during a standout campaign that showcased the club’s depth and attacking quality throughout the tournament.
The match also saw an unfortunate moment before half-time, with Alex Menelaou stretchered from the field following an injury.
Although the result did not fall South Melbourne’s way, reaching the Grand Final of the inaugural OFC Pro League marks another significant chapter in the club’s proud history and underlines its standing as one of the region’s leading football clubs.
South Melbourne FC: 1 (Yuki Uchida 90+7’)
Auckland FC: 2 (Daniel Normann 23’, Matt Ellis 72’)
