Auckland FC strengthened their grip on top spot in the OFC League with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Papua New Guinea’s Hekari FC in Ba, Fiji, on the latest day of pool play. Oscar Faulds put the New Zealand side ahead with a headed finish before half-time, and Liam Gillion sealed the win in the second half with a long-range strike that left Hekari with little chance of a comeback.
The result keeps Auckland clear at the summit as the pool stages approach their final rounds. Auckland produced a composed performance at times, managing the game after Faulds’ opener and killing off Hekari’s hopes with Gillion’s quality effort from distance. Hekari’s tournament has been difficult; their only victory so far came against Vanuatu, and they have struggled to find consistency in this campaign.
The match in Ba was largely one-way traffic, with Auckland controlling possession and creating the clearer opportunities. Faulds’ headed goal just before the interval gave the visitors the lead and momentum, and Gillion’s strike in the second half — struck with pace and accuracy from outside the box — extended Auckland’s cushion and deflated the PNG side’s brief resurgence.
Elsewhere in the pool, South Melbourne FC moved into second place on the table after beating hosts Bula FC 2-0 in their round-five fixture. The visitors scored twice in the first half and then defended resolutely to preserve the clean sheet, reversing the single-point gap that existed between the pair on the ladder before kick-off. South Melbourne now sit second overall with 19 points, while Bula drop to third on 18.
Auckland’s win and South Melbourne’s result are significant as the tournament edges toward its closing pool fixtures; the remaining matches will determine who advances from the group and settle final seeding. For Hekari, the loss underlines the uphill battle they face to climb back into contention, while Auckland will aim to consolidate their advantage and avoid slipping in the decisive games ahead.
No disciplinary incidents or injuries were reported from the Ba fixtures in the available match summary. With goal-scoring contributions from Faulds and Gillion, Auckland have shown they can combine aerial threat and long-range quality — a balanced attacking profile that could prove decisive as the competition reaches its conclusion.
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