Bula FC have booked their place in the Leaders Group after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Auckland FC in Ba.
Playing their final home match of Round 5 at Govind Park, Bula FC struck twice in the first half through Roy Krishna and Sterling Vasconcellos to secure a crucial win and move to 21 points on the Pro League table.
Despite coming under early pressure, Bula held firm thanks to a series of key saves from goalkeeper Didier Desprez, who denied Auckland’s attacking threats in the opening stages.
Against the run of play, the hosts took the lead in the 14th minute when Sterling Vasconcellos finished at the back post following a flick-on from Scott Wara.
Auckland continued to dominate possession but were punished again in the 35th minute, when Fiji’s all-time leading scorer Roy Krishna produced a brilliant solo effort on the counter to double the lead.
The visitors responded before halftime, with Emiliano Tade pulling one back after combining well with Daniel Normann to keep Auckland in the contest.
Auckland pushed hard in the second half in search of an equaliser, but Bula’s defence stood firm, with Wara and Desprez proving difficult to break down.
Tensions flared late in the match, with Auckland captain Tass Mourdoukoutas shown a straight red card following an off-the-ball incident, compounding their frustration.
The final whistle sparked celebrations among Bula players and fans, as the team secured a top-four finish and a place in the Leaders Group, where they are set to face Auckland FC again in May.
Auckland FC, meanwhile, will look to bounce back when they take on South Island United in a rescheduled fixture in Ba.
