- Team Wellington earn massive first leg win in OFC Champions League final
- Disastrous day for Lautoka in a Fijian club’s first final for 11 years
- Winner to represent Oceania in 2018 FIFA Club World Cup
Team Wellington are within touching distance of their maiden OFC Champions League title, and a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup, following a one-sided opening leg of the final on Sunday.
Despite the gloomy conditions in the New Zealand capital, it was perfect afternoon for the home side after a second half onslaught secured a 6-0 victory over Lautoka.
The Fijians were still in the contest approaching the hour-mark with Ross Allen’s 16th-minute goal all that separated the teams.
However, Team Wellington rattled in four goals without reply during a remarkable 14-minute period, which also included a red card for the visitors’ Praneel Naidu.
Jack-Henry Sinclair scored the first of a double with Andrew Bevin and Mario Barcia also netting, before Taylor Schrijvers added extra insurance six minutes from fulltime.
Team Wellington, who have been runners-up for the past three years, ended Auckland City’s seven-year continental reign in the semi-final last month.
The return leg in Lautoka will be played next Sunday with a ticket to UAE 2018 awaiting the victor.
