Pacific pride on show as Bula FC break through and OFC Pro League sees six-goal classic

Round two of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Pro League in Papua New Guinea delivered exactly what Pacific fans crave - heart, fight, and big moments.

From Fiji Bula FC’s long-awaited breakthrough to a breathless six-goal thriller later in the day, Port Moresby was the place to be on the weekend.

Bula FC finally turned promise into points with a hard-earned 1-0 win over Solomon Kings from Honiara, claiming their first victory of the competition and kick-starting their round two campaign.

After a tough opening round, Stephane Auvray’s side showed patience and belief to get the job done.

Chances were few early on, but Bula looked the sharper, with Kaile Auvray providing most of the spark.

The winger’s pace caused problems from the outset, dragging one effort wide before forcing a smart low save from Solomon Kings' captain Phillip Mango.

Nabil Begg celebrates after scoring the decisive goal as Bula FC claimed their first win of the OFC Pro League against Solomon Kings. Photo/OFC Pro League

The Solomon Kings were not without threat. Jez Lofthouse came close to stealing the lead with a glancing header that needed a strong touch from Bula goalkeeper Didier Desprez to push it over the bar.

The breakthrough came just before half-time and it was worth the wait. Setareki Hughes slipped a fine pass into the box for Nabil Begg, whose first shot was saved.

The rebound fell kindly and Begg made no mistake second time, smashing the ball high into the net to give Bula a precious lead.

The task grew harder for Solomon Kings early in the second half when Don Keana was sent off after pulling down Kaile Auvray as he raced through on goal. A yellow card was shown at first, but a VAR review upgraded it to red.

With a man advantage, Bula pushed for a second. Auvray twice went close from free-kicks, one over the bar and another just wide, but the single goal proved enough.

Solomon Kings kept pushing with spirit, yet clear chances were hard to find as Bula defended well to close out the win. The result lifts Bula FC up to third on the table, with Solomon Kings just behind in fourth.

South Island United and South Melbourne FC played out a six-goal thriller, sharing the points in one of the games of the tournament. Photo/OFC Pro League

Later, fans were treated to a very different kind of contest as South Island United and South Melbourne FC played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in the Trans-Tasman derby.

South Island United, flying the flag for the Pacific nations, started fast. Haris Zeb opened the scoring inside nine minutes, pouncing after a spilt cross.

South Melbourne hit back quickly through Yuki Uchida, before Maximilian Mikkola’s penalty gave the Australians a 2-1 lead at the break.

The second half belonged to South Island United. Zeb turned provider for David Yoo to level, before Jaylen Rodwell stunned everyone with a long-range strike into the top corner to put the Kiwis ahead.

South Melbourne refused to lie down and Jordan Swibel finally found the net to make it 3-3, setting up a frantic finish. Both sides chased a winner, but neither could land the final blow.

For Pacific fans, it was a day that showed grit, quality and growing belief, and a reminder that this Pro League is only just warming up.

For more details on the OFC Pro League, click here.

Photo/OFC Pro League