Jack-Henry Sinclair celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during leg one of the OFC Champions League 2018 Final. Photo / Getty Images
Jack-Henry Sinclair celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during leg one of the OFC Champions League 2018 Final. Photo / Getty Images
They say anything can happen in sport and there are no certainties.
But you'd be hard-pressed to come up with any sensible story-line which doesn't end with Team Wellington winning football's OFC Champions League for the first time this afternoon.
The men from the capital take a practically unassailable 6-0lead into the away leg of the final against Fiji's Lautoka FC, knowing they're just 90 minutes away from a first-ever appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup in December.
Quite simply, Lautoka FC – who were obliterated in the first leg last weekend – are not going to overturn that deficit. In truth, Team Wellington are highly likely to extend it even beyond the record-breaking margin that currently exists.
"No-one is too big-headed to think it's already in the bag," said captain Justin Gulley.
"Everyone knows we still have to put in a good performance and come away with that win. (Coach) Jose (Figueira) has been really good at this. He's kept the message clear that it's not fully done yet and we've still got to do a job to bring home the trophy. We've all kept pretty level-headed and haven't got too far ahead of ourselves."
Justin Gulley (right). Photo / Getty Images
Of course, these words are easy to say, but in Gulley's case, you actually believe that he believes them. There's no hint of complacency, no shred of over-confidence.
That's perhaps because having come this far many times before and not completing the job, this group of players and their highly astute coaching staff simply won't relax until the final whistle blows just before 4pm.
This is Team Wellington's fourth straight appearance in the OFC Champions League final, losing the last three to Auckland City. This time they dispatched their fiercest domestic rivals in the semi-final before decimating their Fijian visitors in the home leg of the final last week.
And it's unlikely the foot will be coming off the pedal.
"We love to attack, control the ball and control the game. We definitely won't be going too defensive," said Gulley.
Figueira is unlikely to tinker with his side too much, with the only possible change a start for youth international Jack-Henry Sinclair who came off the bench to grab a brace in the first leg. He may get the nod in attack ahead of Nathaniel Hailemariam. Otherwise, it'll be the same side that has served Figueira so well in reaching the brink of Oceania football's summit.
In a rare dropping of the guard, Gulley admits he's thought about what it will be like to thrust the OFC Champions League trophy into the steamy Fiji sky later this afternoon.
"I have," he smiles, before quickly remembering his side's mantra.
"But I haven't thought too far ahead. I've thought more about the game first and then I can look forward to hopefully lifting that trophy."
Which he undoubtedly will.
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