Scrambling for an equaliser during added and extra time proved futile for Extra Bula FC as they lost 1-2 to Vanuatu United FC in the semi-final play-off of the OFC Pro League yesterday.
The Go Media Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand became a Ni-Van theatre of action as a large majority of Vanuatu United fans became the winner’s extra player as they chanted slogans and cheers to back the team led by captain Raoul Coulon on the field.
And for Bula FC head coach Stéphane Auvray, his assessment of the match and the season boiled down to what he described as a lemon being squeezed to its fullest extent.
“I think we squeezed the lemon as much as we could for this season,” he said after the match.
“We have to admit, at some point we played almost 20 games; we need more quality up top, definitely.”
It’s the conclusion to a season where the team had finished the first five rounds of competition in the leaders’ group where the top four teams of the league were and then lost all its matches in that stage to end up where they were yesterday.
Josaia Sela was the man of the hour in the 17th minute when he shot the ball through for them to draw first blood against Vanuatu.
Another goal shot in by Thomas Dunn at the 28th minute was disallowed after the referee turned to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for clarification.
Bula FC kept a firm grip on the lead in the second half and as it went into added time, Vanuatu grew hungrier for an equaliser and got what it wanted when Azariah Soromon cast a header between the posts.
Nicolas King of Vanuatu then shot another goal in during the second set of extra time to cement the win and conclude Bula FC’s campaign in the league’s inaugural season.
