Auckland City's Historic Quest in Honiara

Words: ACFC Media

Thursday 10 April 2025

HONIARA, Solomon Islands – The countdown begins as Auckland City FC, Oceania’s defending champions, prepare to take on Papua New Guinea’s Hekari United FC in the OFC Champions League final this Saturday at Honiara’s National Stadium.

The stakes couldn’t be higher, with the Navy Blues chasing an unprecedented 13th continental title, while Hekari United eye their second triumph, having last lifted the trophy in 2010. Both teams bring formidable histories and strong performances to the clash, setting the stage for an unforgettable showdown.

Auckland City’s journey to the final included a 1-0 grind against Tahiti's A Pirae, which was followed by a commanding 2-0 victory over AS Tiga Sport from New Caledonia and a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Rewa FC from Fiji, securing their top spot in Group A. The Navy Blues then delivered a semi-final masterclass, dispatching Ifira Black Bird FC from Vanuatu with a 2-0 win. Haris Zeb continued his scoring form, netting his third goal in as many games, while Myer Bevan’s late finish, set up by Matt Ellis, confirmed their place in the final.

Adding to the intrigue, Auckland City FC and Hekari United FC crossed paths during the group stages last year in Tahiti, where the Navy Blues emerged victorious with a narrow 1-0 win. This history adds another layer of rivalry to their upcoming encounter.

Reflecting on the team's philosophy, captain Adam Mitchell credited Auckland City’s continued success to "hard work, determination, and resilience," attributes deeply embedded in the club’s DNA. "When a new player does turn up to the club, they're kind of embedded in this culture. We work until the final whistle and just having that resilience throughout the whole 90 minutes of the game," Mitchell explained.

Looking ahead to the final, Mitchell emphasised the team’s capacity to improve. "There’s always things that we can improve on. I think we’ve had a pretty good tournament so far... I believe we do get better as the competition goes on," he remarked. Acknowledging Hekari United’s quality, he added, "All respect to Hekari as well—they’re a very, very good side."

The captain also addressed the inevitable nerves accompanying such a high-stakes match. "Nerves are normal for football matches. If you don’t have nerves, then you might not be feeling the pressure and the passion of the game. But look, we just have to fine-tune those nerves into a good performance," Mitchell advised. He expressed confidence in the team’s experience and leadership, noting, "We’ve got some really, really experienced players in the squad. People that have been here for five, six, seven O-League titles."

Head coach Paul Posa echoed similar confidence in his squad, hailing their depth and resilience as pivotal to their journey. “I’m very happy with the boys. Incredible effort in tough conditions... We’ve acclimatised, and we’re ready,” Posa said. Reflecting on their preparation under the cooler evening conditions of the final, he added, “Playing under lights will be a relief for the boys... We’re in good shape, ready for the final.”

For Hekari United, the return to the final after a 15-year absence has been a testament to their grit and determination. A narrow 1-0 semi-final victory over AS Tiga Sport, courtesy of their star forward Rex Naime, capped off a strong campaign. Naime’s hat-trick in their 9-0 demolition of Tupapa Maraerenga FC in the group stage has made him a player to watch, bolstered by confidence as he leads his side in the title decider. Jerry Allen’s men showcased flair in their other Group B matches, with a dominant 3-0 win over Central Coast United and a lively 1-1 draw with Ifira Black Bird FC.

Mitchell offered his thoughts on the challenge posed by their opponents. "They’re a very attacking side, very good defensively... We’ve analysed their clubs, so we’re going to be watching some more today as well. But yeah, look, we just have to worry about ourselves first. We have a lot of respect for Hekari as well," he shared.

As two Oceania heavyweights lock horns, fans are guaranteed an electrifying battle for continental glory in Honiara this Saturday night.

Ends

MATCH DETAILS
OFC Champions League 2025 - FINAL
Saturday, 12 April
Auckland City FC v Hekari United FC
National Stadium, Honiara
Kick-off: 6.00pm (Local time) 7.00pm (NZT)

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