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.