South Melbourne FC have booked their place in the inaugural OFC Pro League final with a commanding 4-0 victory over Vanuatu United FC at Go Media Stadium, continuing their strong debut campaign in the competition.
Three first-half goals laid the foundation for the win, as Hellas produced one of their most polished performances of the season to claim a fifth consecutive Pro League victory and move within one match of silverware.
Having rotated heavily for their final Leaders Group fixture eight days earlier, South Melbourne coach Sinisa Cohadzic recalled his senior core for the semi-final, making six changes to the starting XI. The reshuffle paid immediate dividends as South Melbourne asserted control from the opening whistle.
Vanuatu United FC, coached by Lars Hopp, were forced into two changes after a gruelling week that included their dramatic semi-final playoff win over Bula FC just three days prior. Injuries to centre-back Jason Thomas and a suspension to Raymond Diho disrupted their defensive structure against relentless opposition pressure.
In bright Auckland sunshine, and with a vocal travelling fanbase behind them, Vanuatu United’s hopes briefly flickered inside the opening minute when Jordan Swibel forced goalkeeper Matthew Acton into an early save. But that moment quickly proved to be a warning of what was to come.
Hellas fans watch on. Photo: OFC Media via Phototek
Swibel broke the deadlock in the 17th minute with a clever near-post backheel finish from a low cross delivered by Yuki Uchida, setting the tone for South Melbourne’s attacking dominance.
The forward was again central to the action in the 32nd minute, when he turned a corner delivery towards goal. A strong save from Acton wasn’t enough to keep it out, with the ball deflecting in for an own goal that doubled South Melbourne’s advantage.
From there, the match tilted decisively in favour of the Australian side, who controlled possession and tempo with composure, while Vanuatu United struggled to create clear chances against a disciplined defensive unit.
South Melbourne Co-presidents Andrew Mesourouni and Bill Papastergiadis gave a joint statement to Neos Kosmos following the result.
“We are thrilled our players have made the Final of the FIFA Oceania Professional League. This is an extraordinary achievement particularly given that our team is the only team not funded by FIFA to play in this league. Our players and coaches have performed professionally throughout this league. Hellas has scored the most goals of all teams and is going into the Final in great form,” they said.
“We are immensely proud that our Club with a rich history in playing internationally, now has taken the next step in this League. We are committed to Hellas playing at the highest possible level both domestically and internationally.
“The Club has made a significant investment into this League, and we are excited with the opportunities before us.
“Many millions have watched the OFC matches to date and we expect the television coverage for the Sunday Final to be enormous.”
The result sets up a blockbuster final at Eden Park on Sunday afternoon, where South Melbourne will face either Auckland FC or South Island United.
With momentum firmly on their side, South Melbourne now stand one match away from lifting the inaugural OFC Pro League trophy and adding another chapter to their already decorated history.
