South Island United snatched a dramatic stoppage-time winner to beat Bula FC 1-0 in round six of the OFC Pro League in Auckland yesterday, leaving the Fijian visitors with work to do in the competition’s closing stages. Lewis Partridge delivered the decisive assist into the box and Feutz rose highest to head home as the match looked set to end in a draw.
The contest had been cagey for long spells, with both sides struggling to fashion clear-cut chances in the first half. Bula looked dangerous down the flanks early on, with Kaile Auvray using his pace to unsettle the hosts. Gabiriele Matanisiga’s effort was called back for a foul, while skipper Roy Krishna saw a long-range attempt sail over the crossbar. South Island were hit by an early blow when Oskar Van Hattum went down injured inside the first 10 minutes and could not continue; defender Ollie Van Rijssel had already been ruled out ahead of the match.
The game turned late in the first half when Bula were reduced to 10 men. Setareki Hughes was initially shown a yellow card for a late tackle on Rovu Boyers, but a VAR review prompted the referee to upgrade the booking to a straight red, forcing Bula to reshuffle for the remainder of the match. Even so, the Rob Sherman‑coached hosts found it difficult to assert control, and Bula remained competitive despite the numerical disadvantage.
The second half played out as a testament to Bula’s resilience. Josaia Sela came close on two occasions, while Scott Wara and Matanisiga were also denied by alert defending and goalkeeping, keeping the score level as the clock wound down. South Island United, who had been weakened by Van Hattum’s early exit, defended doggedly and almost saw the match slip away.
Just when both teams appeared resigned to sharing the points, Partridge clipped a precise cross into the box during added time and Feutz met it with a header that found the net — a cruel blow for Bula who had fought to the end with ten men. The late goal handed South Island United a precious three points on home soil.
The defeat piles pressure on Bula FC’s remaining fixtures in the OFC Pro League. The Fiji side showed signs of promise in earlier rounds — including a Round 3 win over PNG Hekari — but recent losses, such as the defeat to Solomon Kings in Melbourne, have left their campaign inconsistent. With the competition entering its decisive phase, Bula will need positive results from their remaining matches to keep qualification hopes alive.
Both teams now turn their attention to the next fixtures on the OFC Pro League schedule, where every point will be increasingly valuable.