Hekari upset South Melbourne, securing second OFC Pro League victory

The PNG Hekari FC claimed their second win in the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Professional League after beating the South Melbourne FC with a gutsy 2-1 scoreline on Saturday, 18 April 2026, at Govind Park in Ba, Fiji.

Going up against the second-placed South Melbourne side was an insurmountable task. However, Hekari played with confidence and weathered the storm, capping off the final game of round 5 with a crucial win.

Hekari started the first half strongly, with Lekima Gonerau shooting a pinpoint kick in the 8th minute outside of Melbourne’s left edge 20-meter yard, which caught the goalkeeper flat-footed, taking a 1-0 lead.

After the goal by Gonerau, the match turned into a slugfest. South Melbourne had a flurry of chances to level the goal, so too did Hekari. The MRDC-sponsored franchise defended its lead until the half-time whistle.

The Melbourne men equalized in the 58th minute of the second half, with Marco Jankovich scoring a header from a corner kick. The game was physical following Jankovich’s equalizer, with Ati Kepo bagging a match-winner for Hekari in stoppage time. 

With a much-needed victory, the Jerry Allen-coached outfit is focusing on regaining momentum and preparing for the Challengers Group series in New Zealand, slated from 7-13 May. 

PC: OFC Media