South Melbourne face Vanuatu United as OFC Pro League narrows to last four

The OFC Pro League has reached its semi-final stage, with South Melbourne FC, Vanuatu United FC, Auckland FC and South Island United each acceptable to vie for a spot successful adjacent week’s expansive final.

The opening semi-final will take spot tomorrow astatine Auckland’s Go Media Stadium, where South Melbourne FC will conscionable Vanuatu United FC successful a clash betwixt 1 of the competition’s starring contenders and its astir surprising breakthrough side.

OFC Pro League has delivered a tightly contested archetypal season, with South Melbourne emerging arsenic 1 of the benchmark teams crossed the regular campaign. Known for their attacking structure and antiaircraft discipline, the broadside has maintained accordant signifier to found themselves firmly among the title favourites.

Vanuatu United, by contrast, person taken a acold much melodramatic way into the last four. After finishing seventh retired of 8 teams successful the regular season, they produced a precocious surge done the Challengers Group and semi-final playoff system to unafraid their spot successful the semi-finals, becoming 1 of the competition’s surprise packets.

The two sides were evenly matched crossed the regular season, and South Melbourne skipper Marco Jankovic said his team was under nary illusions astir the situation ahead.

“I think they play very otherwise to immoderate different team successful this competition,” Jankovic said.

“They travel up with antithetic formations and systems to play, and they are riding a wave astatine the moment, so it’s going to beryllium a very tough game.”

The 2nd semi-final will diagnostic an all-New Zealand contention betwixt Auckland FC and South Island United, with the winner advancing to conscionable either South Melbourne oregon Vanuatu United successful the final.

Auckland FC person dominated the home rivalry passim the season, winning each three erstwhile encounters against South Island United, including a commanding show astatine Eden Park conscionable 1 week ago.

However, Auckland skipper Tass Mourdoukoutas said knockout shot would reset expectations entirely.

“We’ve had success against them passim the Pro League campaign,” Mourdoukoutas said. “But it’s a semi-final, so for us it’s a blank slate. Finals shot is wholly different, and we cognize South Island United will beryllium ready.”

Semi finals (AEST)

Wednesday 20 May

South Melbourne FC v Vanuatu United FC | 11.30am

Auckland FC v South Island United | 4.30pm