HONIARA, Solomon Islands – Auckland City FC will bring their OFC Champions League 2025 Group A campaign to a close this Saturday afternoon with a clash against Fiji’s Rewa at Lawson Tama Stadium.
3 April 2025
With back-to-back victories under their belt, the Navy Blues have already secured their semi-final berth. Yet to concede a goal in the tournament, the reigning champions aim to maintain their unbeaten record and solidify their top position in the group.
Auckland City opened their campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win against AS Pirae before delivering a convincing 2-0 performance over AS Tiga Sport. These results have earned them a spot in next week’s semi-final with one group match to spare.
For Rewa, however, elimination from the competition after consecutive losses leaves this final match as their last opportunity to bow out with pride.
Auckland City head coach Paul Posa emphasised the importance of squad rotation heading into the encounter, citing the challenging conditions in Honiara. “Players have had a lot of tough football in two days in the heat, so we’ve just got to rotate and use the squad. We’ll be making some changes,” he explained.
Defender Michael Den Heijer highlighted the team’s ability to adapt to the challenging conditions, saying, “Yeah, the boys have adjusted well to the climate over here—it’s not easy—but everyone’s in good spirits, so can’t complain.” He also praised the team’s defensive discipline, adding, “We’ve slightly tweaked the tactics here compared to back home, keeping things very compact. The whole team has been defending right from the front to the back, and everyone’s been putting in a shift each game.”
Den Heijer emphasised the importance of maintaining momentum heading into the semi-finals. “We’re very lucky to have a big squad here. It’ll be great for everyone to get a run and keep everyone sharp, especially those who haven’t been getting as many minutes. It helps keep spirits high and keeps everyone focused and ready for the semi-final.”
Fellow defender Adam Bell echoed the sentiments about team cohesion and preparation. “The hospitality here in the Solomons has been incredible, and I’ve really enjoyed it so far. On the field, it’s been tough, as you’d expect in the OFC, but we’ve been trusting the plan, and it’s been working—happy days.”
Bell underscored the significance of staying focused despite already securing a semi-final spot. “It’s hard not to look at the horizon, but as a team, we’re just focusing on taking it one game at a time and treating it like every other game. We want to keep the winning ways going into the semi-final—we can’t drop the level or intensity.”
Rewa, meanwhile, have struggled to find cohesion in this year’s tournament, suffering defeats against both AS Pirae and AS Tiga Sport. However, the Fijian side will be determined to leave Honiara with a statement performance by challenging the defending champions.
Den Heijer acknowledged the potential challenge Rewa poses despite their elimination. “To be honest, from the games I’ve seen from them, they’ve actually looked like the better team in a lot of the games they’ve played. Unfortunately for them, a couple of red cards haven’t helped, but I think it’ll definitely be a tough challenge for the boys tomorrow who take part.”
Bell shared a similar perspective on the opposition. “They’re a very good team. They gave us a hard run in the first game of the last tournament, so I’m expecting good things from them. They’ll bring a tough game—and we’ll bring one too.”
With Auckland City chasing a record-extending 13th Oceania title, the team looks poised to finish the group stage on a high note, balancing their ambition with the need to manage player freshness for the challenges ahead. Honiara braces for yet another captivating display from the region’s football powerhouse.
Ends
AC 2025 OCL SQUAD: 1. Conor TRACEY (GK) 3. Adam MITCHELL (C) 4. Christian GRAY, 5. Nikko BOXALL 7. Myer BEVAN 8. Gerard GARRIGA 10. Dylan MANICKUM 11. Ryan DE VRIES 13. Nathan LOBO 14. Jordan VALE, 15. Jackson MANUEL, 16. Joe LEE 17. Jerson LAGOS 18. Areya PRASAD (GK) 19. Dylan CONNOLY, 20. Matt ELLIS 22. Tong ZHOU 24. Nathan GARROW (GK) 25. Michael DEN HEIJER 26. David YOO, 27. Haris ZEB, 28. Otto INGHAM 30. Adam BELL
Head Coach: Paul Posa
Assistant Coach: Ivan Vicelich
Assistant Coach: Adria Casals
GK Coach: Jonas Hoffmann
Physiotherapist: Matt Payne
Physiotherapist: Zara Ellis
Team Manager: Keith Coton
