Auckland City FC have done it again. On Saturday night, the Navy Blues won the OFC Champions League for the 13th time, beating Hekari United 2–0 in the final at the National Stadium in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

It was another proud moment for the club and for head coach Paul Posa, who claimed his second OFC title in charge of Auckland City.

This year’s tournament wasn’t easy. Several key players stayed home to save leave days for the FIFA Club World Cup in June and others were playing in the competition for the first time. On top of that, the team had to deal with tough heat and humidity.

Still, Auckland City stepped up when it mattered. They finished first in their group with seven points: a 1–0 win over AS Pirae (goal from Dylan Manickum), a 2–0 victory against Tiga Sport (Dylan Manickum & Haris Zeb), and a 1–1 draw with Rewa (Haris Zeb).

In the semi-final, they put in a strong performance to beat Ifira Black Bird 2–0 and book their place in the final. The goals were scored by Haris Zeb and Myer Bevan.

The final belonged to Myer Bevan, who scored both goals to secure the trophy. It was a confident and professional performance that capped off an unbeaten campaign for the Navy Blues.

There were more celebrations after the match: Dylan Manickum won the Golden Ball for best player of the tournament and the team received the Fair Play Award. Myer Bevan and Haris Zeb finished as the club’s top scorers with three goals each.

Auckland City FC will now prepare for the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, where they’ll once again represent New Zealand on the world stage. Before that, the Navy Blues will be aiming to climb back to the top of the Dettol Northern League and head into the international tournament in the best possible form.

Article added: Monday 14 April 2025