Auckland City are set for yet another appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup after retaining their OFC Champions League title with a tough 3-0 win over compatriots Team Wellington on Saturday.
A lone strike from Micah Lea’alafa in just the second minute separated the teams at half-time, as the Solomon Islander scored with an impressive individual effort.
Clayton Lewis doubled the lead on 67 minutes as the Navy Blues struck on the counter-attack.
Team Wellington were reduced to ten men when former Auckland City midfielder Alex Feneridis received a second caution, and Lea’alafa rubbed salt into the wounds with his second goal six minutes from time.
The final concluded a 12-team, two-week tournament in Auckland.
It is a sixth title in a row – and eighth overall - for Auckland City, and the New Zealanders will now feature in a record eighth Club World Cup later this year in Japan.