Sports

Auckland City retains OCL title on penalty shoot-out

April 26, 2015 7:54 pm

Auckland City FC has won the Fiji Airways OFC Champions League title for the fifth season in a row following a dramatic 4-3 penalty shoot out win over Team Wellington in Suva last night.

Korean Daewook Kim proved to be the hero as he slotted in the winning penalty after both teams were tied 1-1 after 120 minutes of football.

A penalty scored by Joao Moreira just 14 minutes into the match settled an at times tense affair dominated by Auckland City FC’s possession-based game.

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The Auckland City FC defense restricted Team Wellington to only rare forays forward with their biggest threat from set-plays.

Team Wellington’s most dangerous attack came courtesy of a wayward Takuya Iwata back-pass that forced his goalkeeper Tamati Williams into an improvised but awkward headed clearance.

But the match took a dramatic twist in the second half when Ian Hogg lashed home a fully deserved equalizer with just six minutes left on the clock to make it 1-1.

The victory sees the Navy Blues not only qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan and scoop $659,000 USD in prize money, but equal Real Madrid’s record of five consecutive Champions League titles set between 1956 and 1960.

Meanwhile, Ba’s Saula Waqa won the golden boot with five goals.