Auckland City demolishes Solomon Warriors to confirm first place in OFC Champions League’s Group A

Auckland City FC have cemented their place in the semi-finals of the OFC Men’s Champions League 2024 following a dominant 5-0 victory over Solomon Warriors FC at Stade Paea. The win ensures the defending champions progress confidently into the next stage of the tournament.

Dylan Manickum was the standout performer for Auckland City, netting a hat-trick to spearhead the team’s emphatic win. The Solomon Warriors, already facing elimination after losing their previous matches, put up a valiant effort, particularly in a tightly contested first half.

The match began with Solomon Warriors’ forward Gagame Feni taking the first shot on goal, though his attempt from the edge of the box was easily saved by Auckland City’s goalkeeper, Conor Tracey. The first half saw few chances, as both teams struggled to break down each other’s defenses.

However, just before the halftime whistle, Dylan Manickum broke the deadlock. A shot from Stipe Ukich was parried by Solomon Warriors’ goalkeeper Timothy Maearasia, and Manickum was perfectly positioned to tap in the rebound, giving Auckland City a 1-0 lead at the break.

Auckland City came out stronger in the second half, and it took only five minutes for Manickum to double both his and his team’s tally. Substitute Tong Zhou capitalized on a loose ball in the box, setting up Manickum to stab home his second goal.

Manickum completed his hat-trick on the hour mark after Ukich was fouled in the box, confidently converting the resulting penalty to make it 3-0. Five minutes later, Ukich was fouled again in the penalty area. This time, he stepped up to take the penalty himself and slotted it into the corner, increasing the lead to 4-0.

The onslaught continued as Auckland City showcased their class. With fifteen minutes remaining, substitute Ryan De Vries added the fifth goal. De Vries exhibited excellent footwork to carve out space in the box before cleverly placing his shot inside the near post, leaving Maearasia wrong-footed.

With this victory, Auckland City FC await the outcome of the remaining fixtures in Group B to learn who their semi-final opponent will be. Three of the four teams in that group are still vying for a spot in the final four, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the group stage.

Auckland City’s performance not only secures their semi-final berth but also sends a clear message to their competitors about their intent to retain the title.