Solomon Kings upset Auckland

The Solomon Kings stunned the undefeated Auckland FC with a gutsy 3-1 victory in Circuit 2 of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Professional League on Saturday, 7 February 2026, at Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby.

The ladder leaders, Auckland, were aiming to extend their winning streak and maintain their perfect record. However, the unpredictable Solomon Kings came from nowhere and spoiled the party, pulling off the biggest upset in the competition.

Both sides showcased physical strength, tactical precision, attacking flair, and defensive strategy for 39 minutes of the first half. The Kings broke the deadlock in the 41st minute through Sota Higashide after Auckland’s Daniel Norman was penalized for a handball inside the penalty area. 

Moments later, Auckland shifted their gear to level the score but failed. The Kings, however, orchestrated a false transition play to double their lead in the 45th minute through Bobby Leslie, taking a 2-0 lead over the competition giants at the break.

The Solomon Islanders did not waste time registering their third goal in the 55th minute of the second half through Jez Lofthouse, leaving the New Zealanders scratching their heads in disbelief. 

Through persistence, Liam Gillion scored a consolation goal for the table toppers in the 87th minute to reduce the deficit by 2 goals, tasting their first loss of the season but still maintaining the pole position. 

Solomon Kings FC coach Benjamin Cahn was overwhelmed with the result, praising his players for rising to the occasion and edging out the unbeaten Auckland outfit in Port Moresby’s scorching heat. 

“The last two games showed good performances, and we played well, which shows that we belong in the competition, but football is about scoring goals, and luckily today, we managed to do that,” he said.

“It’s hard to put into words how glad I am with their performance. No one thought we would win; no one gave us a chance. We were a better team for a longer period, so we deserve the victory.

“It’s hard to process the win. I can’t even put into words how much they contribute to the club and their country. They got their rewards today. It’s not about me, it’s about the players. I’m so proud of them.”

Auckland FC coach Luke Casserly attributed the team’s first loss to the humid conditions, but credited the Solomon Kings for their outstanding performance and looking to bounce back in the winner’s circle in Circuit 3 in Melbourne, Australia.