IT was a top of the table clash when Auckland FC took on South Melbourne at the Four R Stadium in Ba, Fiji.
Auckland – currently in first place with 23 points made a strong statement in the first minute when Jonathan Robinson had some space to move to the far left before shifting the ball through for Liam Gillion to score.
But South Melbourne were not easily intimidated, and Andrico Mesourouni levelled the scores 1–1 in the 10th minute.
Charlie Leech scored South Melbourne’s second and turned the match around. Regular cooling breaks were taken to hydrate players in the humid Ba weather.
Auckland FC stepped it up in the second half to draw the game once more with a Matthew Ellis goal in the 59th minute.
Charlie Leech was red-carded in the 77th minute, and South Melbourne then started to look frustrated.
Making good use of the advantage, Auckland FC retook the lead in the 84th minute with a spectacular goal by Ronan Wynne.
Auckland FC won 3–2 to remain at the top of the table.
Hosts Bula FC took on tail-enders PNG Hekari FC.
Setareki Hughes and Nabil Begg had some opportunities to score early on but were not successful.
After a series of missed opportunities in the first half, Bula FC’s Adam Supyk scored the first and only goal of the match in the 63rd minute.
Bula FC 1–Hekari United 0
