Solomon Warriors will have to be at its best to beat AS Magenta

The final match of the OFC Champions League – Group C will have the Solomon Islands champions Solomon Warriors facing the New Caledonian powerhouse AS Magenta at Stade Numa Daly to decide which of the both sides will top the group and secure a much needed home quaterfinal-match in the knock-out stage of the regional tournament.

Both sides are already qualified for the second stage of the tournament: Solomon Warriors surpassed the Tahitian side of AS Tiare Tahiti by 1-0, while the New Caledonian side won the same side Tahitian team by 3-2. With the withdrawal of Tupapa Maraerenga from the group stage, Tiare Tahiti did not have any chance to reach any of the both sides in the standings and left the tournament in the group stage – this was their first participation in history at OFC Champions League.

The difference between the teams was of only one goal in each match; now Solomon Warriors and AS Magenta will battle for the first spot in the final group match. A draw will mean AS Magenta will top the group as they have scored more goals than Solomon Warriors in the process: if the Solomon Islanders want to top their group, they will not to impose a defeat to the home side in front of their crowd.

The captain Haddis Aengari will need to be a rock defensively to stop the important players of AS Magenta attack led by Kevin Nemia, that scored a brace in the previous match of the New Caledonian side.

The likes of Jerry Donga and John Alick will need to step up to in the midfield in a battle that will be interesting to see against Wilsen Poameno and Didier Simane. They will be responsible to protect his team defense and link upfront the always dangerous Gibson Daudau and Dennis Ifunaoa.

Ifunaoa presents himself as the top-striker of Solomon Warriors for this encounter. The former Hekari United and Labasa player scored the winner against Tiare Tahiti that qualified his side for the knock-out stage. Now the attacker will have a harder challenge to break the hearts of the defensive system of Magenta led by Jean-Brice Wadriako.

The outcome of the clash will be very important for the aspirations of both sides in the tournament: AS Magenta wants to confirm their favouritism against the Solomon Islanders, as Solomon Warriors is expected to come hungry to make history in Stade Numa Daly.