National League / OCL

OFC Professional League matches thread

425 replies · 11,932 views
23 Jan 03:51
Owen Smith what a finish!

Concerning start for South Island United that's for sure. And they haven't even had to go to the islands yet.
23 Jan 03:53
VAR rules it off for an earlier foul. Absolutely gutting for Vanuatu United
23 Jan 03:54
Yeah that's rough for Vanuatu
23 Jan 03:54
Absolutely atrocious decision - Saniel's used his body there well. Gutting for Vanuatu, was some finish too
23 Jan 03:55
Goal ruled out. If you look at the backplay a clear foul on Christian Gray.

Auckland-based commentators complaining so much about it as if the foul was ages before the goal... was literally on the same counterattack smh.
23 Jan 04:05
You gotta feel for Vanuatu utd, their first three opponents were Bula, Auckland and South, three teams most were picking to finish top 4 and they really brought it. Unfortunately this game just didn't go their way
23 Jan 04:28 · edited 23 Jan 04:30 · History
Nice scenes post match, Haris Zeb a selfie with a bunch of young kids.
He had a football academy for Muslim kids in Auckland before moving back to his home town ChCh to join SIU.

Those kids looked like they maybe from that Academy. Zeb a role model for NZ kids of a Muslim background.

23 Jan 05:57 · edited 23 Jan 05:58 · History
This VAR tutorial before each game is a killer.



Auckland will rise once more

23 Jan 06:04
"If that ball didn't go in, would they have checked for the foul?"

No... that's the point of VAR ffs.
23 Jan 06:12
AucklandPhoenix
This VAR tutorial before each game is a killer.


They play it before every game and at half time and still folks on social media can't get it lol
23 Jan 06:19
that is a very well worked set play goal. 
I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological. 
23 Jan 06:23 · edited 23 Jan 06:24 · History
kwlap
that is a very well worked set play goal. 

Considering how little time these teams have had together, very slick corner routine.
23 Jan 06:41
He's been a bit quieter tonight, but Kaïlé Auvray looks a handful on that left hand wing for Bula. 

Diminutive little fella, but so far in their two games he seems to be a very tidy pickup by the Fijians. Absolutely rapid across the grass too.
23 Jan 06:45
And that's likely the game.

Have to wonder if Matt Foord will be getting a bit of action in PNG
23 Jan 06:47 · edited 23 Jan 06:49 · History
LT01
And that's likely the game.

Have to wonder if Matt Foord will be getting a bit of action in PNG
Saved by Faulds straying offside.

Overruled goal aside, Desprez looks very ordinary in my opinion. Unsure in the air to follow on from his last minute clanger against Vanuatu.
23 Jan 06:47
Still 1-0 actually - called offside on the VAR because Faulds was involved in that. Another good call
23 Jan 06:51
YoungHeartHM
He's been a bit quieter tonight, but Kaïlé Auvray looks a handful on that left hand wing for Bula. 

Diminutive little fella, but so far in their two games he seems to be a very tidy pickup by the Fijians. Absolutely rapid across the grass too.

19 caps for Trinidad and Tobago. Couple games for USA U17s. So got some pedigree. Probably only this league because his old man coaches Bula (plus Fiji national team), and I think junior Auvray is on the injury comeback trail.

Nix may have a little look.
23 Jan 07:19 · edited 23 Jan 07:20 · History
Fantastic finish from Begg, but unfortunately at first glance it did look offside by Krishna... And it proves to be.

Still 1-0.
23 Jan 07:42
O'Leary sent off and fairly so. 
He could have gone earlier for a 2nd yellow re that weird blatant hand ball the ref missed.
23 Jan 07:51
coochiee
O'Leary sent off and fairly so. 
He could have gone earlier for a 2nd yellow re that weird blatant hand ball the ref missed.

Watching about 10 minutes behind now due to family duties. But it does my head in no end that the commentators were waffling on about possibly rescinding the red card through VAR, even though it was a second yellow card and then the red issued. 

First off, unless somethings changed, i'm 99.99% sure that a yellow card can't be referred to VAR. Secondly, from the only angle they had it looked like it could have been a straight red anyway? So in that instance it could only have been reviewed and upgraded to a straight red. 

Either way, O'Leary is lucky it wasn't a straight red from the go in my opinion.
23 Jan 08:03
OFC.  Need a red card marker on the screen score board/time keeper.  This is the pro league.  Little things like that make it more pro.
23 Jan 08:09 · edited 23 Jan 08:42 · History
I'm quite liking this league.  Let's hope the nix are in it real soon.
23 Jan 10:47
Banzai!...AIEEE!!!
I'm quite liking this league.  Let's hope the nix are in it real soon.

We can’t get relegated from the A league.


23 Jan 12:47
Banzai!...AIEEE!!!
I'm quite liking this league.  Let's hope the nix are in it real soon.

Another comp for us to finish 6th in and treat as a great outcome!
Supporter world's best and worst football teams: Waikato/WaiBop, Kingz, Knights, Phoenix, The Argyle, The Whites & the All Whites

23 Jan 20:29
Banzai!...AIEEE!!!
I'm quite liking this league.  Let's hope the nix are in it real soon.
 Let's win the one we're in first
24 Jan 01:37
Congrats to the slow folks at TAB who finally have odds for this league 😂
24 Jan 02:03 · edited 24 Jan 02:06 · History
Look at the defenders boot... thats onside?? Very tight glad they went to VAR at least
24 Jan 02:07
Games to be played on Saturday January 24, 2026

Solomon Kings v Tahiti United
North Harbour Stadium, Albany, Auckland, New Zealand, 2.30pm

PNG Hekari v South Melbourne
North Harbour Stadium, Albany, Auckland, New Zealand, 6.30pm



24 Jan 02:10 · edited 24 Jan 02:11 · History
LT01
Look at the defenders boot... thats onside?? Very tight glad they went to VAR at least

Was closer than it looked. I thought that boot might just be keeping him on.

Must be up to about 8 minutes of stoppage time already in this one after the two stoppages so far.
24 Jan 06:24
3-0 now - another goal for SM originally called offside but changed?? They played the Hekari backline well again but that one looked much more marginal
24 Jan 06:45
 
 
Commentators referred to them as Melbourne United... oh dear
26 Jan 03:49
https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2026/01/26/venue-kick-off-times-set-for-second-round-of-matches-in-ofc-pro-league/

Games to be played on Saturday January 31, 2026
Vanuatu United v Tahiti United
Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 2.30pm (NZ)

PNG Hekari v Auckland FC
Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 6.30pm (NZT)

Games to be played on Sunday February 1, 2026
South Island United v South Melbourne
Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 2.30pm (NZ)

Bula v Solomon Kings
Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 6.30pm (NZT)

Games to be played on Tuesday February 3, 2026
Tahiti United v Auckland FC
Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 2.30pm (NZ)

PNG Hekari v Vanuatu United
Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 6.30pm (NZT)


Games to be played on Wednesday February 4, 2026
Solomon Kings v South Island United
Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 2.30pm (NZ)

Bula v South Melbourne
Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 6.30pm (NZT)

Games to be played on Saturday February 7, 2026
Auckland FC v Solomon Kings
Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 2.30pm (NZ)

PNG Hekari v South Island United
Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 6.30pm (NZT)

Games to be played on Sunday February 8, 2026
South Melbourne v Vanuatu United
Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 2.30pm (NZ)

Tahiti United v Bula
Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 6.30pm (NZT)
26 Jan 08:42
Three match days in and 1 and 2 are already settled. Embarrassing times ahead as it seems like Melbourne and AFC could potentially walk this league.
26 Jan 09:58
If they do walk this league its quite possible that some of the PI clubs wont be that happy about another AL club like the Nix joining any expansion. New Caledonia is a cert if they sort out their problems. 
26 Jan 10:02
observerfromuh
Three match days in and 1 and 2 are already settled. Embarrassing times ahead as it seems like Melbourne and AFC could potentially walk this league.

Way way too early to make that prediction.

Haven't played one game yet in the Islands. Honiara is apparently a brutal place to go for a light jog, let alone play a game of football.

AFC were fortunate to beat Bula FC 1-0 at NHS.
26 Jan 22:57
observerfromuh
Three match days in and 1 and 2 are already settled. Embarrassing times ahead as it seems like Melbourne and AFC could potentially walk this league.
Nonsense, both have had close games.

By the way, you ought to look at the format. Points reset after the 5 circuit series. The only thing that gets determined by all these matches is who makes the top 4 and who doesn't. Plus it has a finals series after the leaders group and the challengers group. Rightly or wrongly, that means that the competition will stay open to form. 
27 Jan 10:37
LT01
observerfromuh
Three match days in and 1 and 2 are already settled. Embarrassing times ahead as it seems like Melbourne and AFC could potentially walk this league.
Nonsense, both have had close games.

By the way, you ought to look at the format. Points reset after the 5 circuit series. The only thing that gets determined by all these matches is who makes the top 4 and who doesn't. Plus it has a finals series after the leaders group and the challengers group. Rightly or wrongly, that means that the competition will stay open to form. 
Also forot that the format resets after the 5 circuits.

Not as easy to predict depending on where the finals land too.

Also also if AFC and us are getting dumped out of the FFA Cup, OFC should say goodbye to South Melbourne.