Race For Top Four Heats Up As OFC Pro League Lands In Suva

Round 5 of the OFC Pro League kicks off in Suva this Saturday, with four clubs vying for a place in the Leaders Group in the Fijian capital.

Solomon Kings FC, South Island United, Vanuatu United FC and Tahiti United will play all three of their Round 5 matches in Suva.

Six games will take place across three match days at HFC Bank Stadium, all with potential permutations for who makes up the top four and the bottom four, before the league splits into two for the Leaders and Challengers Groups.

The action kicks off on Saturday with Vanuatu United FC taking on South Island United, before Tahiti United face Solomon Kings FC.

Elsewhere, the other four OFC Pro League clubs will do battle at the newly refurbished 4R Electrical Govind Park in Ba, where action kicks off on Sunday.

Only five points separate fourth placed Solomon Kings FC from seventh placed Tahiti United, meaning all four clubs in Suva have a chance of finishing in the top half when the dust settles on Round 5.

Vanuatu United FC

With four points from their two games against the league’s top two sides in Honiara, Vanuatu United FC were one of the big movers in Round 4 and will be hoping to maintain the momentum as they hunt down a top four spot in Suva.

"We've given the players some time away during the break," says coach Lars Hopp. "It's been good to get away from the competition for a few weeks, and have chance to look at the bigger picture of where we sit in the competition."

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The Chiefs are currently 5th in the table on 13 points, with all three of their remaining fixtures against those around them.

"We've tried to be consistent with the system and idea that we want the players to play. All three of our opponents are different tough, so we'll change a few details and our preparation for each match accordingly."

South Island United

The pressure is on South Island United, who arrive in Fiji outside the top four for the first time this season.

They have a game in hand on four of their five rivals for a place in the Leaders Group though, and will head to Ba for a rescheduled Round 3 match against New Zealand rivals Auckland FC at the end of their trip.

"We've worked on all four opponents," says coach Rob Sherman. "We gave the boys a good break too, and are in a good space."

Sherman has history in Fiji, having previously coached the national team. "It's been great to see some of the younger Fijian boys come through with Bula FC. I'm really pleased with what I've seen from them, and it's good to see Fijian football in a good place."

Tahiti United

Tahiti United have ground to make up in Fiji after failing to register a win in Round 4, losing to Bula FC and drawing with PNG Hekari FC.

They sit five points adrift of the top four as such, but like South Island United, have a game in hand with a rescheduled Round 3 match to play in Ba at the end of their stay.

Still, Samuel Garcia’s side will likely need at least three wins from their four games to have any hope of catching the top four.

Solomon Kings FC

After a strong start to the competition, Solomon Kings FC lost some steam in front of their home fans, taking just a point from their two matches in Honiara.

They remain two points ahead of Vanuatu United FC and inside the top four but have a crucial set of final fixtures to ensure they secure a spot in the Leaders Group that would cap off what has been thus far an impressive campaign.

Adding to the pressure is the fact that they failed to win any of the reverse fixtures against South Island United, Tahiti United or Vanuatu United FC earlier in the competition – something Ben Cahn’s side will have to overcome in Suva.

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