Bula FC secured a statement 2-1 win over Auckland FC at 4R Electrical Govind Park in Ba on Saturday night to clinch a top-four finish and a place in the Pro League Leaders Group. Midfielder Setareki Hughes said belief inside the camp was decisive as the hosts produced one of their season’s biggest results, lifting Bula to 21 points on the table with qualification confirmed ahead of Round 6 in May.
Auckland started the brighter side, piling early pressure and forcing Bula goalkeeper Didier Desprez into a string of important saves to deny chances from Kian Donkers and Liam Gillion. James Bayliss also had an effort cleared off the line as the visitors threatened to take control. Against the run of play, Bula broke the deadlock in the 14th minute when Scott Wara flicked on a free kick and Sterling Vasconcellos finished at the back post to give the home side a surprise lead.
The hosts doubled their advantage on the counter in the 35th minute when Fiji’s all-time leading scorer Roy Krishna produced a superb solo effort to punish Auckland and send the home crowd into raptures. Auckland pulled one back before halftime when veteran striker Emiliano Tade combined with Daniel Normann and finished inside the box to set up a nervy second half.
Hughes said coach Stephane Auvray’s halftime instructions were to stay disciplined and control the game. “Coach told us to control the game and that’s what we did in the second half. Even though we didn’t have much possession, we came for a mission and that was to get the three points,” Hughes said. Auckland continued to press after the break, but Bula’s defence—with Wara prominent both at set pieces and in defensive actions, and Desprez repeatedly denying chances—held firm.
As the clock wound down Auvray moved to protect the lead, replacing Hughes with former Auckland defender Semi Nabenu in the final 20 minutes to bolster the backline. Tempers flared late in the contest when Auckland captain Tass Mourdoukoutas was sent off following an off-the-ball scuffle, leaving the visitors further frustrated as they chased an equaliser.
At full-time Bula players and supporters celebrated a memorable home victory that guarantees the club a place among the competition’s top four and the security of Leaders Group football. The result not only hands Bula momentum heading into Round 6 but also underlines the impact of experienced figures such as Krishna and Desprez and the collective belief highlighted by Hughes that has driven the side since an earlier setback this season.
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