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AS Dragon and AS Pirae took the field yesterday – 18th February – at the Stade Pater for the first game of the OFC Champions League national qualifier in Tahiti. Dragon was undefeated this season and had finished the first half of the Tahitian Ligue 1 with a 100% record. In their last meeting beforehand the Dragons beat AS Pirae by 2-1 which had been held in the sixth round of the domestic league – currently AS Dragon have an eight-point lead over Pirae who sits third in the table.
The Pirae side had two major losses for this match – the brothers Alvin and Jonathan Tehau – and suffered the consequences early in the match when Dragon had their first chance of the match in a counter attack with Roonui Tiniarauarii in the 13th minute, coming out in front of the goalkeeper but shooting over the bar.
The game in the first half continued to be very disputed with both teams fighting for the ball, but failing to create chances to score. The last good chance was with Dragon attacking the right side of the Pirae defense, François Mu crossed and Roonui Tiniarauarii wasted another chance to score – not a good day for the Ligue 1 top-scorer.
In the second half, Pirae had more possession than Dragon and in the 48th minute they took the lead. Ariiura Labaste played to Jacques Tetauira, who made a beautiful throw to Yohann Tihoni, who slipped the ball into the box for Labaste himself to open the scoring.
Dragon’s big chance to tie the game came in the 60th minute when Tevaihau Tehuritaua’s free-kick hit the crossbar. In the 78th minute Pirae had the chance to increase the score of the match with Tevaitini Teumere who shot from outside the box to a great save by Anapa Debruyne. But just after, the corner-kick conceded made Dragon to pay: Matatia Paama headed into the back of the net to extend the lead for AS Pirae. Watch the highlights of the match by clicking here.
The AS Dragon were dealt a further blow when Heimano Bourebare tackled hard the captain Raimana Li Fung Kuee a he had to be replaced. After suffering their first loss of the season AS Dragon will have a tough mission to reverse the score next week if they want to keep dreaming with the OFC Champions League.
Oceania Football Center 