Auckland City and Wellington Olympic will meet in a two-match play-off in March to decide which club represents New Zealand in this year’s OFC Champions League.
Wellington Olympic will host the first game on Saturday March 11, 2023, though the venue and kick off time are still to be confirmed.
A week later, on Saturday March 18, the teams will meet in Auckland.
The aggregate score will decide which team qualifies for the eight-team league.
Main photo: Auckland City won the 2022 OFC Champions League and qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
Eighteen teams from the Oceania region are playing off for the right to go into the eight-team main draw for the OFC Champions League.
Fourteen are playing off in home and away ties (see match schedule below), while clubs from Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga and American Samoa meet in a tournament in Samoa from February 18-24 to decide the last of the eight spots in the main draw.
The clubs in the qualifying tournament are Tupapa Maraereanga (Cook Islands), Ilaoa Ma To’omata (American Samoa), Lupe Ole Soaga (Samoa) and Veitongo FC (Tonga)
Head-to-head: Auckland City v Wellington Olympic
Auckland City and Wellington Olympic qualify for the OFC Champions League national play-off because they are the winners and runners-up in last year’s Men’s National League.
City won the grand final between them 3-2 at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland.
Results of last three meetings
Grand Final, Men’s National League
Game played on Sunday December 4, 2022
Auckland City 3 (Liam Gillion 33′, Gerard Garriga 40′, Angus Kilkolly 88′)
Wellington Olympic 2 (Tor Davenport Petersen 77′, Ben Mata 90+1′ pen)
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Chatham Cup semi-final
Game played Sunday August 21, 2022
Auckland City 3 (Dylan Manickum 10′, Joe Lee 45′, Emiliano Tade 68′)
Wellington Olympic 1 (Jessie Randall 54′)
National League round one
Game played Saturday October 1, 2022
Wellington Olympic 1 (Gianni Bouzoukis 75′)
Auckland City 2 (Ryan de Vries 50′, own goal 86′)
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