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OFC Professional League matches thread

581 replies · 20,855 views
27 days ago
I would imagine there will be a few format changes for next season. With direct international flights from Fiji and Melbourne SIU really should be getting home games.
If they do expand then New Caledonia is 100% in as it seems to be stable there now. 
It will be interesting to see who gets the 10th slot. Seeing how the big countries have dominated the comp this year the Island nations might not be that keen on another heavyweight pro club.
Hopefully the Nix will try to build some bridges with the Island nations before decisions are made. We were a bit arrogant last time.
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27 days ago · edited 27 days ago · History
Are there legit Nix OFC team rumours or is it all forum speculation?

Didn't think the league was popular enough for an expansion yet. It definitely would be a great idea to get the Nix in ASAP as we have a big fan base and it creates the Nix vs AFC rivalry which will definitely attract more interest in the league.

Don't think more NZ teams would be bad for the Island teams at all. Would make the league more competitive/popular which is the best thing for the Island nations to develop.

If we do get a team. Would love if we got Bally back. He'd be a great captain/veteran of the team and he deserves a better ending than he got.
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Endorsed by
Noah4thenixSimon B
27 days ago
Interesting yarn. 27 yr old Higashide was playing for a 4th tier club in Japan that was previously coached by SI Kings' Ben Cahn, that was the connection that bought him to this league.

Good enough to play A League?
 
On his day in this OFC Pro League he's been a star. He only joined the Solomon Islands club two days before their first game in Auckland in January. ie zero preseason with is new team mates and zero English.

https://www.ofcproleague.com/news/sota-higashide-the-japanese-playmaker-at-the-heart-of-solomon-kings-fc/
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15 days ago · edited 15 days ago · History
Finals series starts tomorrow. Greeny and Gill might be popping up from Welly for a looksee.

Mt Smart
Bula FC v SIU
https://twitter.com/OFCProLeague/status/2050837428043387310
The teams have touched down in Auckland ahead of Round 6! 🛬

Get your tickets now 🎟️#OFCProLeague pic.twitter.com/JL89E3wXwy
— OFC Pro League (@OFCProLeague) May 3, 2026 https://twitter.com/OFCProLeague/status/2050852917411000635
3 matches, 3 Semi Final spots 😤 Whoever finishes 4th must play the best of the Challengers Group for the last remaining place in the finals 👀

Get your tickets now and witness history in Auckland 📲🎟️#OFCProLeague pic.twitter.com/Spz7s2MupW
— OFC Pro League (@OFCProLeague) May 3, 2026 https://twitter.com/OFCProLeague/status/2050840372889485654
3 matches to stake their claim. The winner of the Challengers Group plays 4th place from the Leaders Group for a spot in the Semi Finals 😮

Be there to see who takes it 👀 Tickets on sale from Ticketmaster 📲🎟️#OFCProLeague pic.twitter.com/B8VmHuPimF
— OFC Pro League (@OFCProLeague) May 3, 2026 

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14 days ago
Gonna be tough hope SIU is able to finish top 3 and maybe even make it to the GF. They don't have a great record against the top clubs but you never know
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14 days ago
You suspect for SIU it will come down to today's Bula FC game, as to whether they can finish 3rd in the Leaders Group, and so avoid the playoff semi against 1st in the Challengers Group.

AFC II & Sth Melbourne everyone's picks to be locked in semi finalists.
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14 days ago
Also notice Chch Utd academy player Ollie Young on the bench - told he is a replacement in the squad for Ollie van Rijssel, who has fractured a bone in his leg. Young is a Christ's College old boy who has committed to Emmanuel College in Boston for the upcoming NCAA Division III season.
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Endorsed by
Southernix
14 days ago
Be interested to see where Zeb lines up in these finals games

Was playing at LB in recent matches
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14 days ago
Tech. Ability & decision making really makes this a tough watch. 

Feutz seems to be a live-wire who could probably look at home with some smarter players with him.
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14 days ago
1-0 to SIU

Not hugely impressed I think they should've finished on some of those chances but they got it done in the end. At least they've finally picked up a win against a top 3 side
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Endorsed by
coochieeLT01
13 days ago · edited 13 days ago · History
Value of having a team in the OFC League, Auckland drop down Jonty Bidois from the A League for some mins. Unfortunately he butchers an open header opportunity.
SM up 2-1 at HT. Zoricich AFC II's goal after a lovely ball from Matt Ellis.
 
The regular season’s top two are about to take centre stage again! 🇳🇿 v 🇦🇺

Here are your starting line-ups as Auckland FC and South Melbourne FC begin their Leaders Group campaigns.

📺 Watch the action LIVE and FREE on FIFA+ or through your local broadcaster. #OFCProLeague pic.twitter.com/js2gbhxXeF
— OFC Pro League (@OFCProLeague) May 6, 2026 

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13 days ago · edited 13 days ago · History
To further illustrate the value of this comp to Auckland, on come 18 yr olds Van Fitzharris (HT) & Luka Vicelich (early 2nd half).
All valuable experience against a robust SM, one of the better NPL sides in Aussie.

Be interesting to see who Auckland drop down to the OFC side if they make the final, and the lucrative FIFA Intercontinental Cup money is on the line. Liam Gillion an example. 
Presumably there are some rules around that, re minimum appearances made league proper etc.  
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13 days ago · edited 13 days ago · History
SM win 2-1.

I see OFC Pro League (OPL) dates are single-leg semi-finals Wed May 20th, with OFC Pro League final, on Sun May 24th.

A League two-legged Semi-Finals are scheduled for May 8th-10th and May 15th-17th, with the Grand Final set for May 23rd-24th.

So if Adelaide knock Auckland FC out in the ALM semis, the likes of Gillion should be available for their OFC team, OPL semis & final (if they make it).
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13 days ago
0-0 at HT. All very friendly between the 2 teams when they walk off.

Bit more 'feeling' in games when one of the Island teams plays a NZ/Aussie team?
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13 days ago
SI Kings beat Tahiti U 2-1, and are likely now favoured to win the Challengers Group.
PNG & Vanuatu seem the weakest two teams in the comp.

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Endorsed by
Noah4thenix
12 days ago
Kiwis Smith & Ingham suit up for VU.

https://twitter.com/OFCProLeague/status/2052268137668903352

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12 days ago
coochiee wrote:
SI Kings beat Tahiti U 2-1, and are likely now favoured to win the Challengers Group.
PNG & Vanuatu seem the weakest two teams in the comp.

 
Not sure I'd agree with this. Vanuatu dominated Kings the first time and were unlucky to lose the second time. Having beaten Hekari 3-1 they come in to the game on top spot too. Realistically the Melanesian derby between Solos and Vanuatu on the weekend is gonna decide it. If not comes down to GD/dropped points the following week
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11 days ago
coochiee wrote:
To further illustrate the value of this comp to Auckland, on come 18 yr olds Van Fitzharris (HT) & Luka Vicelich (early 2nd half).
All valuable experience against a robust SM, one of the better NPL sides in Aussie.

Be interesting to see who Auckland drop down to the OFC side if they make the final, and the lucrative FIFA Intercontinental Cup money is on the line. Liam Gillion an example. 
Presumably there are some rules around that, re minimum appearances made league proper etc.  
The Nix 100% have to get into this comp ASAP. The value for AFC is obvious. If we dont we will just fall further behind.
Imagine if we had been in this season and the likes of LBS, Cassidy, Smith, Loke and others had a full  OPL season. They would be much more AL ready then they are now. LBS only had 230 minutes of play coming into the last match for the Nix. 
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Endorsed by
LT01Noah4thenixSouthernix
11 days ago · edited 11 days ago · History
I had hopes Jonty Bidois might kick on in the A League this season.
But it hasn't happened. He also blew an open header chance midweek for AFC II verus Sth Melb.

Hopefully he can score a few, next couple of weeks in the OPL. Need to some Kiwi striker prospects to appear from somewhere.


https://twitter.com/fc_auckland/status/2052924010242142292
Your OFC XI to take on Bula FC. 👊 pic.twitter.com/kWsF0W1OrS
— Auckland FC (@fc_auckland) May 9, 2026 https://twitter.com/OFCProLeague/status/2052925249239605634
We're all set for a crucial day of Leaders Group action in Auckland!

Here are your starting line-ups as @fc_auckland take on @thebulafc.

Watch LIVE and FREE on FIFA+#OFCProLeague pic.twitter.com/5nRSSnVCSv
— OFC Pro League (@OFCProLeague) May 9, 2026 

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11 days ago · edited 11 days ago · History
https://www.plus.fifa.com/en/content/auckland-fc-vs-bula-fc/7940c388-b1b7-4c0e-8c41-5c0d19620b2c

And Bidois puts AFC II up 1-0 very early. Bula CB Wara slips over, giving Bidois a free shot.

https://twitter.com/OFCProLeague/status/2052943615408910713
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11 days ago
Everton O'Leary with a rocket makes it 2-0 at HT.
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11 days ago
Finishes 2-0. 

Seems Bula FC (have Sth Melb to play) will finish 4th in the Leaders Group, and have to playoff against the winners of the Challengers Group.
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10 days ago · edited 10 days ago · History
Feutz doing all he can to get himself an A League deal with someone. Lovely finish.
SIU up 1-0 in the rain.

Edit - deflection off Gray (oggie?) compounded by some poor SIU defending and now 1-1.

Edit 2 - bang & bang. Nice finish Mikkola. SM now up 2-1. But continued too passive in defence SIU & keeper Van Dijk should have done better with both goals. SM totally dominating now. Zeb struggling with full back defence duties up against Cocks.

Edit 3 - and again. Mikkola has a lethal long throw and lanky CB Jankovic nods in. Though is attributed as a Josh Rogerson oggie. 3-1.

SM a pretty slick outfit, running over SIU. You could almost make Sth Melbs now favourites to win this comp. 20 yr old Arran Cocks (who has spent time in Scotland with Livingstone) very useful player.

Pity for them they ain't eligible to qualify for FIFA Intercontinental Cup, from this OFC league.
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10 days ago
Swibel makes it 4-1 right on the cusp of HT.
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10 days ago
It's pretty obviously going to be an Auckland vs South Melb final
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Endorsed by
LGSouthernix
10 days ago
Finished 4-2 so SIU win the 2nd half!

Oli Fay the goal
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10 days ago
Otto Ingham has VU 1-0 up against Solomons at Mt Smart
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10 days ago
VU beat Solomon Kings 3-2.
Vanuatu U with 2 wins now in pole position to earn the playoff spot against the bottom team in Leaders Group.

https://www.ofcproleague.com/news/vanuatu-united-fc-sieze-control-of-challengers-group/

Solomon Kings FC: 2 (Sota HIGASHIDE 62, Javin WAE 86')
Vanuatu United FC: 3 (Otto INGHAM 35', Alex SANIEL 76', Own Goal 83')

The result leaves Vanuatu United on the cusp of securing top spot in the Challengers Group with six points and consecutive victories from their first two games in Auckland. A draw in their final game against Tahiti United would do enough to secure qualification for the semi-final play-off on Wednesday, whilst Solomon Kings FC will be hoping the Chiefs slip up and they beat PNG Hekari FC to keep their campaign alive. 
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Endorsed by
LT01
9 days ago
2-2 draw, Tahiti United and PNG Hekari.

Neither team can now qualify for the playoff match.
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Endorsed by
LT01Southernix
9 days ago · edited 9 days ago · History
Big game 7pm tomorrow is AFC II verus SIU.

Though if Sth Melb beat Bula FC in the earlier game, both Kiwi teams will be into the semis, and meet each other yet again, ie 2nd verus 3rd.

Bit of a flaw with the playoffs setup.
 
So if SM beat Bula, both Kiwi teams may rotate their squads in the latter match, ahead of their semi matchup

https://twitter.com/OFCProLeague/status/2053613190475567231
https://www.plus.fifa.com/en/content/auckland-fc-vs-south-island-united/ad852945-3988-4971-8a7a-7bcbae47bda9

https://twitter.com/OFCProLeague/status/2053603381999226985
 
An Australian team winning at @edenparknz 🤯

Max Mikkola celebrates his goal in style as @smfc get the W at Eden Park 👏#OFCProLeague pic.twitter.com/S3jJ1ZJTNe
— OFC Pro League (@OFCProLeague) May 10, 2026 

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