The inaugural OFC Pro League has reached its semi-final stage, with South Melbourne FC, Vanuatu United FC, Auckland FC and South Island United set to battle for a place in next week’s final.
Tomorrow’s opening semi-final at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium sees South Melbourne FC take on Vanuatu United FC in a battle between one of the competition favourites and its surprise package.
South Melbourne FC have been among the standout teams throughout the regular season, combining attacking flair with defensive consistency to establish themselves as genuine title contenders.
Vanuatu United FC, meanwhile, have captured attention with a remarkable late surge in the Challengers Group and semi-final playoff to secure a last four berth after finishing seventh out of eight teams in the regular season standings.
The two sides squared the ledger in the regular season and Hellas captain Marco Jankovic is wary of the men from Port Vila.
“I think they play very differently to any other team in this competition,” Jankovic said. “They come up with different formations and systems to play, and they are riding a wave at the moment, so it’s going to be a very tough game.”
Vanuatu United FC will however be without suspended midfielder Raymond Diho and central defender Jason Thomas, who misses the match through concussion protocols.
However, captain Michel Coulon says the squad remains focused on making history.
“I know it’s not going to be easy. It’s a tough match,” Coulon said. “But we’re in the competition to compete. The key for us is our team spirit and team bonding, and we all share the same target, to be in the final.”
The second semi-final will see Auckland FC take on South Island United in an all-New Zealand encounter.
Auckland FC have dominated the domestic rivalry during the regular season, winning all three meetings between the sides, including an emphatic result at Eden Park exactly one week ago.
However, Auckland FC captain Tass Mourdoukoutas says past results will count for little once knockout football begins.
“We’ve had success against them throughout the Pro League campaign,” Mourdoukoutas said. “But it’s a semi-final, so for us it’s a blank slate. Finals football is completely different, and we know South Island United will be ready.”
South Island United believe the results against Auckland FC don’t tell the full story and they can rise to the occasion against their more fancied opponents.
Captain Christian Gray is relishing another crack.
“Yeah, that’s the beauty of this format. Tomorrow night it’s just who turns up on the night and hopefully we have left our best to last and we can get the win. We’re close and to be honest there’s been a feeling in our camp that we haven’t quite reached our potential yet.
“We’re hoping that tomorrow we show our best and then hopefully again, but tomorrow is the big one.”
