2023 OFC Champions League final explained

2023 OFC Champions League Final
Event:2023 OFC Champions League
Team1:Auckland City
Team1association:
Team1score:4
Team2:Suva
Team2score:2
Stadium:VFF Freshwater Stadium
City:Port Vila
Referee:David Yareboinen (Papua New Guinea)
Man Of The Match1a:Cameron Howieson (Auckland City)
Attendance:5,420[1]
Weather:Partly Cloudy
26°C
65% humidity[2]
Previous:2022
Next:2024

The 2023 OFC Champions League Final was the final match of the 2023 OFC Champions League, the 22nd edition of the Oceanian Club Championship, Oceania's premier club football tournament organized by the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), and the 17th season under the current OFC Champions League name.

The final was a single match between New Zealand's Auckland City and Fiji's Suva. The match took place at VFF Freshwater Stadium in Port Vila on 27 May 2023.[3] [4] [5]

Defending champions Auckland City FC, defeated Fijian Suva 4–2 after extra time to win a record eleventh title and earned the right to play at the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia.[6] As they also won the 2022 OFC Champions League, they also earned the right to play at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

Teams

In the following table, finals until 2006 were in the Oceania Club Championship era, since 2007 were in the OFC Champions League era.

TeamPrevious finals appearances (bold indicates winners)
Auckland City10 (2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2022)
SuvaNone

Venue

VFF Freshwater Stadium was the venue for the final. This is the first time that the stadium hosted an OFC Champions League final.

Road to the final

Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away; N: neutral).

Auckland CityRound Suva
OpponentAgg.1st leg2nd legNational play-offsOpponentAgg.1st leg2nd leg
Wellington Olympic6–41–1 (A)5–3 (H)Semi-finals Rewa3–21–1 (A)2–1 (H)
OpponentResultGroup stageOpponentResult
Solomon Warriors3–1Matchday 1 Lupe ole Soaga6–0
Suva3–1Matchday 2 Auckland City1–3
Lupe ole Soaga3–0Matchday 3 Solomon Warriors2–0
Group A winnersFinal standingsGroup A runners-up
OpponentResultKnockout stageOpponentResult
Ifira Black Bird2–2 (5–4 p)Semi-finals Pirae

Format

If the match is level at the end of 90 minutes of normal playing time, extra time will be played (two periods of 15 minutes each), where each team would be allowed to make a fourth substitution. If still tied after extra time, the match will be decided by a penalty shoot-out to determine the winners.

Match

Details

width=25!width=25
GK 1 Conor Tracey
RB 14
CB 3 Adam Mitchell
CB 5 Michael den Heijer
LB 13
CM 8
CM 2 Mario Ilich
CM 7 Cameron Howieson (c)
RW 16
CF 11
LW 10
Substitutes:
GK 24 Joe Wallis
DF 4 Christian Gray
DF 6
DF 12
DF 24
MF 15 Aidan Carey
MF 23 Matt Ellis
FW 11
FW 19
Manager:
Albert Riera
width=25!width=25
GK 22 Akuila Mateusuva
RB 2
CB 4 Inoke Turagalailai
CB 5 Remueru Takiate
LB 3
CM 24
CM 10
CM 11
RW 13
CF 7
LW 14 Samuela Drudru (c)
Substitutes:
GK 1 Jovilisi Borisi
GK 21 Sanaila Waqanicakau
DF 15 Waisake Navunigasau
MF 6
MF 8
FW 9
FW 19
FW 23
Manager:
Maxwell Thaggard
Man of the Match:
Cameron Howieson (Auckland City)

Assistant referees


Bertrand Brial (New Caledonia)
Jeremy Garae (Vanuatu)
Fourth official


Ben Aukwai (Solomon Islands)
Fifth official


Jeffery Solodia (Solomon Islands)

Match rules
  • 90 minutes.
  • 30 minutes of extra time if scores level.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
  • Maximum of three substitutions, with a fourth allowed in extra time.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Auckland City vs Suva. Oceania Football Confederation.
  2. Web site: Port Vila, Shefa, Vanuatu Weather History . . 27 May 2023 . 28 May 2023.
  3. Web site: OFC Competitions 2023 Calendar confirmed 1/01/2023 . Oceania Football Confederation . 25 February 2023.
  4. Web site: Seven clubs confirm their places for this year’s OFC Champions League. friendsoffootballnz.com. 5 March 2023. 4 April 2023.
  5. Web site: DRAW DATE CONFIRMED FOR OFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2023. Oceania Football Confederation. 20 March 2023. 2 April 2023.
  6. Web site: Auckland City claim record extending 11th OFC Champions League title in extra time nail-biter. Oceaniafootball. 27 May 2023.