The Solomon Islands champions Solomon Warriors started in fashion their campaign in a hard fought win over the newcomers from Tahiti AS Tiare Tahiti thanks a clinical header by their star-player Dennis Ifunaoa.
The Solomon Islanders controled most of the match, lost some good goalscoring opportunities including one penalty-kick lost by the Ni-Vanuatu international John Alick. Despite playing a better game, the Tahitian side were also dangerous in the counter-attacks forcing the goalkeeper Timothy Maerasia to make some important stops.
Ifunaoa talked to Oceania Football Center and expressed his joy for scoring and winning this very important match: “We are very happy for winning the match, despite some of our players picked up injuries in the game“, stated the Solomon Islands international.
Dennis Ifunaoa playing in Telekom S-League – The Island Sun News
As mentioned by the forward, some of his teammates suffered minor injuries during the match, including himself: “I received a knock in my right leg, I am struggling to walk properly for now, but I expect to play the next game“, said the attacker.
The representatives from Solomon Islands made a very important step towards qualification for the knock-out stage with their 1-0 victory over Tiare Tahiti, since now both sides only have one match remaining in the group C – both against the hosts AS Magenta from New Caledonia – as the Cook Islands side Tupapa Maraerenga withdrew from the competition.
ATK visited Bengaluru FC at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in the first leg of 2019-20 Indian Super League semifinals. Despite having 63% of ball possession, the team from Kolkata failed to score and lost by 1-0 as they had only one shot on target while Bengaluru took advantage from counter-attacking situations.
Fijian forward Roy Krishna was ATK’s captain in the match but he did not perform well as he lost the ball for many times and he also did not have a good record on passing and shooting.
Krishna (fallen) did not perform well against Bengaluru FC
The second leg will be played in Kolkata on Sunday. Krishna and ATK will have the tough mission to reverse their disadvantage. It is time for the Fijian star prove his real value by being decisive in the crunch time.
Scrivere sul calcio oceaniano non è facile, come potrete immaginare. Ogni giorno accendiamo il nostro laptop e iniziamo a cercare nuove storie che sono molto difficili da trovare. Raccogliamo informazioni su storie e novità intervistando giocatori, allenatori e dirigenti delle varie squadre dell’Oceania. È stancante ed è un duro lavoro e quasi sempre non da molte soddisfazioni. Nonostante ciò, continuiamo a farlo perché sappiamo che prima o poi succederà qualcosa di fantastico che ci metterà in pace con il mondo. La storia che state per leggere rappresenta proprio il senso di realizzazione che ognuno dovrebbe provare quando si lavora su mondi così lontani nello spazio e nel tempo. Qualche giorno fa ho intervistato, per Oceania Football Center, la grande speranza del calcio femminile tahitiano, Kiani Wong. Ma iniziamo dal principio, no?
Kiani Wong con la tenuta del Cardiff City FC
Kiani è nata il 21/11/2000 a Papeete, Tahiti. È alta 1,70 me pesa 69 kg. Le piace giocare al centrocampo e il suo idolo assoluto è Leo Messi. Ha 19 anni e vive in Inghilterra dopo aver firmato un contratto con la squadra di calcio femminile dello Yeovil Town, la cui prima squadra gioca nella Southern Premier Division femminile della FA Women ma che ha un passato glorioso. A marzo 2019, la precedente società che militava nella Premier League femminile ha presentato istanza di fallimento ed è scomparsa. Il nuovo proprietario viene riavviato da zero e la FA ha concesso solo la licenza della terza serie. Ma torniamo a Kiani e al suo presente. Il programma di sviluppo giovanile dello Yeovil è molto interessante. Implica la collaborazione con due università della regione, il Bridgwater & Taunton College (BTC) e l’University Center Somerset, nonché, naturalmente, il lavoro sul campo.
La prima squadra dello Yeovil Town FC 2019/2020 – Kiani è nella fila più alta, in piedi, la terza a partire da destra
“Ho iniziato a giocare a calcio quando avevo 4 anni. Sono sempre stato prima degli altri “, ci dice Kiani con un bellissimo sorriso, “e a Tahiti c’erano solo squadre maschili. Ho suonato con loro fino al mio arrivo in Francia nel 2016. ” Kiani è partita da Tahiti quando era molto giovane. Aveva solo 16 anni ed era sola. “Mia mamma è partita insieme a me. Mi ha aiutato nei primi mesi a Strasburgo, poi se n’è andata e ho dovuto farcela da sola. ” Ciò che percepisci mentre la ascolti di avere davanti a te una donna giovane ma molto determinata, consapevole del suo destino e desiderosa che questo accada. “All’inizio, è stato difficile passare dalla cultura tahitiana alla cultura francese, europea, perché ci sono così tante differenze ed essere così lontani dai miei genitori non è stato per niente facile quando sei così giovane come lo ero io, all’epoca. Anche quest’anno non credo di riuscire ad andare in vacanza a Tahiti. ”, Continua Kiani. “Quando sono arrivata a Strasburgo, mi sono trasferita all’FC Vendenheim, un pole d’espoir feminine“. In Francia, se vuoi avere qualche speranza di diventare un calciatore o una calciatrice professionista, puoi farlo solo se entri in un’Accademia come quella di Kiani. Non è affatto facile sfondare ma la giovane calciatrice tahitiano sa cosa serve per arrivare dove vuole.
Kiani Wong con la maglia della sua nazionale con cui ha già 12 presenze
Kiani, non appena si è presentata una grande opportunità, in Inghilterra si, dove il livello del calcio femminile è persino più alto che in Francia, ha colto l’occasione al volo e si è trasferita nella terra d’Albione. “Sono venuta qui perché voglio diventare una giocatrice professionista. È sempre stato il mio sogno. Devo dire che in Inghilterra si vivrebbe anche bene se non fosse per la pioggia“, dice una Kiani sorridente. “Non devi mai arrenderti, devi sempre lavorare sodo anche se è difficile ma il lavoro pagherà sempre“, queste sono le ultime parole che scambiamo con lei. Deve lasciarci per andare alle sessioni di allenamento pomeridiane. Dopo aver visto il campionato del mondo femminile che si è svolto in Francia nel 2019, possiamo dire che il livello del calcio femminile si è alzato notevolmente. Oggi molte donne calciatrici riescono a guadagnarsi da vivere con il proprio lavoro, una cosa impensabile fino a qualche anno fa. Ciò è accaduto perché giocatori come l’americana Megan Rapinoe hanno combattuto e continuano a farlo per far riconoscere i diritti di tutta la categoria. Se guardiamo in prospettiva possiamo tranquillamente affermare che il futuro del calcio femminile è nelle mani di donne coraggiose come Kioni e siamo sicuri che siano le mani sicure … oops … i piedi più sicuri in cui lasciarlo. Faaitoito Kioni Wong per il tuo futuro.
Écrire sur le football en Oceanie n’est pas facile. Chaque jour, on commence à chercher des nouvelles histoires qui sont tres difficiles à trouver. Nous rassemblons les informations en interrogeant les joueurs, les entraîneurs et les managers des différentes équipes d’Oceanie. C’est un travail fatigant, acharné et presque toujours sans aucune satisfaction. Malgré cela nous continuons à le faire parce que nous savons que quelque chose de fantastique arrivera tôt ou tard qui nous mettra en paix avec le monde. La pièce que vous apprêtez à lire représente dans son intégralité le sentiment d’accomplissement que vous devriez essayer lorsque vous travaillez sur des mondes si éloignés. J’ai interviewer, depuis de quelques jours, pour Oceania Football Center, le grande espérance du football féminin tahitien, Kiani Wong.
Kiani Wong avec le maillot du Cardiff City FC
Kiani est née à le 21/11/2000 a Papeete, Tahiti. Elle mesure 1.70m et elle pèse 69 kg. Elle aime joue au milieu du terrain et son idole est Leo Messi. Aujourd’hui, elle a 19 ans et vit en Angleterre après avoir signé un contrat avec le club de football féminin de Yeovil Town, dont la première équipe joue dans la FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division. En effet, en mars 2019, la société précédente qui joué dans la Premier Ligue feminine a déposé son bilan. Le nouveau propriétaire est redémarré à partir de zéro et la FA n’a accordé que la licence de troisième série. Mais revenons à Kiani. Le programme de développement pour les jeunes a Yeovil est très intéressant. Il implique une collaboration avec deux universités de la région, Bridgwater & Taunton College (BTC) et University Center Somerset, ainsi que, bien sûr, le travail sur le terrain.
La premiere equipe de Yeovil Town FC 2019/2020 – Kiani c’est la troisieme a partire de la droite dans la file plus haute
“J’ai commencè a jouer au football a l’age de 4 ans. J’ai toujours été plus tôt que les autres“, Kiani nous dit ça avec un beau souris, “et il n’y avait que des équipes masculines a Tahiti. Je joué avec eux jusqu’à mon arrivée en France en 2016“. Kiani est partie très jeune. Il n’avait que 16 ans et elle etait toute seule. “Ma maman est partie avec moi. Elle m’a aidé dans les premiers mois à Strasbourg, puis elle est partie et j’ai dû me débrouiller toute seule.” Ce que vous percevez en l’écoutant, c’est d’avoir devant vous une femme jeune mais très déterminée, consciente de son destin et désireuse de le concrétiser. “Au début, il a était difficile de passer de la culture tahitienne à la culture française, européenne, car il y a tellement de différenceset être si loin des mes parents ce n’est jamais facile quand on est si jeune comme moi. Cette année, je ne pense pas d’aller pour les vacances a Tahiti.“, a continué Kiani. “A Strasbourg, j’ai déménagé au FC Vendenheim, un pôle espoir féminin.” En France, si vous voulez avoir un quelconque espoir de devenir footballeur ou footballeuse professionnel, vous ne pouvez le faire que si vous entrez dans une académie comme celle nommée par Kiani. C’est pas du tout facile mais la jeune footballeuse tahitienne sait bien ce qu’il faut pour arriver où il veut.
Kiani Wong avec l’équipe nationale de Tahiti. 12 caps pour elle.
Elle a donc déménagé, dès qu’une belle opportunité s’est présentée, en Angleterre où le niveau du football féminin est encore plus élevé qu’en France. “Je suis venu ici parce que je veux être un joueur professionnel. Cela a toujours été mon rêve. Puis en Angleterre on vit bien sauf la pluie“, dit une souriante Kiani. “Il faut jamais lâcher, il faut toujours travailler dure même si c’est difficile le travaille sera toujour payant”, ce sont ce derniers mots avec nous car elle doit nous quitter pour aller aux séances d’entraînement.
Après avoir vu le championnat du monde féminin qui s’est déroulé en France en 2019, on peut dire avec sérénité, que le niveau du football féminin a définitivement augmenté. Aujourd’hui, de nombreuses footballeuses parviennent à vivre de leur travail, qui était impensable jusqu’à il y a quelques années. Cela est arrivé parce que des joueueses comme l’américaine Megan Rapinoe se sont battus et continuent de le faire pour voir leurs droits reconnus. Aujourd’hui, l’avenir du football féminin est entre les mains de femmes courageuses comme Kioni et nous sommes sûrs que ce sont des mains… oups… des pieds sûrs pour le quitter.
Faaitoito Kioni Wong pour ton futur.
Un video du 2017 de la 1ere Polynesie avec Kioni Wong
The fifth matchweek of 2020 Vodafone Premier League is over. Three matches were played in the top-tier of Fijian football and Oceania Football Center brings a full review of these clashes to you. Scroll down and check it!
Nasinu received Suva at Ratu Cakobau Park in a breathtaking match. The match started with some bad news for Suva as Nigerian forward Jibola Afonja left the pitch injured in the 22nd minute. He was replaced by Ravnit Chand.
The Capital City Boys opened the scoreboard with Jonetani Buksh in the 30th minute but they did not have much time to celebrate because Luke Savu found the net for Nasinu. The Giantkillers had a major blow when Sekove Naivakananumi was sent off so they had to play the whole second half with just ten players.
Suva took advantage of the situation and scored two goals to extend their lead to 3-1. However Nasinu managed to tie the match as Solomon Islands player Jared Rongosulia scored twice from the penalty spot. He also had the opportunity another penalty kick goal but it was disallowed by the referee because he made an irregular move to take the penalty. Lots of people reacted to this situation by cursing the referees.
Jared Rongosulia scored a brace for Nasinu. Source: FIJI FA MEDIA
However, according to FIFA rules, referee Kavitesh Behari acted perfectly when he disallowed Rongosulia’s goal. The final score was 3-3 and it was not a very good result for both teams. Suva remains unbeaten in the tournament but they are still in the fourth position with five points while Nasinu is in sixth with four points.
In the second match contested at Ratu Cakobau Park, current league leaders Rewa received bottom placed Navua. Patrick Joseph opened the scoreboard from the penalty spot in the first half to score his third goal in three matches (all of them from the penalty spot) while Epeli Valevou found the net in the second half to extend Delta Tigers’ lead. The second half was a bit spicy as Bruce Hughes from Rewa and Navua’s captain Netani Doli were sent off in the 67th minute after a confusion.
Navua still had time to score through Monit Chand but it was not enough. At the final whistle the score was 2-1 for Rewa that leads the league with twelve points in five matches.
Valevou scored Rewa’s second goal. Source: FIJI FA MEDIA
In the third and last match of the day, Labasa visited Lautoka at Churchill Park. It was Lautoka’s first official match after being eliminated in the 2020 OFC Champions League. The biggest surprise came from Labasa as Siotame Kubu started the match on the bench. They did not count on Ni-Vanuatu forward Alex Saniel who returned to New Zealand right after the Champions League. Goalkeeper Liam Anderson and defender Jack Caunter came back to New Zealand as well.
There were no goals in this match as it finished drawn – 0-0. Lautoka is currently in the second position with seven points while Labasa is having an awful beginning in the league with just one win in five matches.
You can check the current standings and the top scorers by clicking here.
A 20:00 ce soir au Stade Pater de Pirae, Tahiti, le AS Vénus fera son début en OFC Champions League 2020 contre le Lupe ou Le Soaga. Un démarrage en douceur pour les hôtes tahitiens qui ont l’ambition de franchir cette premiere phase a groups et d’aller le plus loin possible dans la compétition continentale. Quelques heures avant du match nous avons échangé quelques mots avec le milieu de terrain de l’AS Venus Tahitian, Tauhiti Keck. Il a 26 ans et c’est un international, car il a joué 6 match avec son equipe nationale.
Mahina, Tahiti
C’est la première fois que le stade municipal de Mahina accueillera un match de OFC Champions League et il y a beaucoup d’attentes de la part de la fan base de Vénus.”Nous attendons que le fans nous supporte avec force car on aura besoin d’eux pour gagner les matchs. Ils doivent être le 12éme homme sur le terrain. Il y aura du monde, des jeunes, des moin jeunes et on espere que le foot sera magnifique pour tous“, nous a dit Kreck, “Ce sont des matchs que en à pas l’habitude de recevoir chez nous a Mahina, et là c’est l’occasione de montrer des matchs de haut niveau sur nos terres pour le plaisir de nos familles, de nos supporter de Vénus.“
“Nous nous sommes bien préparés. On a pas changé non habitudes. On a un bon coach avec un bon staff pour les entraînements. Nous les joueurs nous attendons ce moment avec impatience. Nous avons hâte de jouer“, a continue le milieu du terrain tahitien.
Le groupe D n’est pas si simple. Il y a deux équipes avec lesquelles Vénus se disputera le passage de la manche le neozelandais du Auckland FC, l’equipe plus titreé du continent, et le fijiens du BA FC. “C’est un group tres difficile“, continue Kreck, “de toute façon la OFC Champions League n’est jamais facile. En connait tous Auckland. C’est un grande equipe avec un beau jeu. BA FC a un jeu athletique tres bons, e meme le samoa on doit pas le laisser jouer.Nous on va se battre quoiqu’il arrive avec tout notre coeur“
Nous espérons que l’AS Vénus fera bonne figure devant son public et devant a tous ceux qui le suivront de chez lui. Ce serait un excellent spot pour le football tahitien si son équipe la plus importante réussissait à avancer dans la compétition continentale.
A valiant performance from competition debutants Vitiaz United saw them hold eight-time champions Hekari United to a goalless draw in Port Moresby yesterday afternoon, a result which saw Vitiaz continue their impressive debut campaign. In the early kick-off, however, Lae City had no problem dispatching Highlands-based side FC Kutubu, hitting eight goals in the biggest victory of the season so far.
On their return from an unsuccessful OFC campaign in Vanuatu, Lae City made several changes to their line-up against the league’s only Highlands-based side, which saw both Ecuadorians dropped to the bench, while Raymond Gunemba was also absent from the first eleven, for unknown reasons: perhaps he was required to serve a suspension for pushing a match official against Vitiaz United; perhaps he was merely rested.
Whatever the reasons for the reshuffle, it worked: Lae were on top within the first ten minutes thanks to a goal from Emmanuel Simon, who remains the side’s most important player. Nigel Dabinyaba doubled their lead before half-time, and the reigning champions went into the break looking fairly comfortable at 2-0.
However, after the game resumed, the floodgates opened. Alu Awi and Albert Morgan Jr, both of whom were brought into the squad for this match, scored Lae’s third and fourth goals respectively, while Simon hit Lae’s fifth just after the hour mark. Karesa Morris got one back for FC Kutubu, but any glimmer of hope that goal provided was erased after substitute Abdias Aguirre scored Lae’s sixth, before Morgan rounded off an exceptional performance by hitting two late goals to seal his hat-trick.
Ecuadorian Abdias Aguirre started the game on the bench but came on to score Lae’s sixth goal. Photo: PNGFA
The result put Lae top of the table temporarily on goal difference, but the biggest match of the day was still to come: top-of-the-table Hekari United were set to face third-placed Vitiaz United in a potential banana-skin for the eight-time champions: Vitiaz had already secured victories over Lae City and Tusbab Stallions and had only been defeated once all season, by FC Bougainville.
A draw would see Hekari return to the top of the table, and as the match wore on, that looked like the most likely result: both sides showed some excellent touches in the midfield and some well-executed set pieces, but neither side could find that finishing touch, and the game ended 0-0, casting doubt over the efficiency of Hekari’s forward line: Lae have now scored 28 goals, ten more than Hekari, but Hekari’s defence is water-tight: they’ve only conceded three goals to Lae’s eight. The two sides meet next weekend in the final round of the first half of fixtures for the season. What will happen when Lae City’s incredible forward line meets Hekari’s mean defensive system?
The draw means that Hekari’s lead at the top of the division is cut to one point, with Lae in second and Vitiaz third, a further two points behind Lae.
Below that, Tusbab Stallions cemented their fourth-placed position with a 5-0 away victory in Port Moresby against Star Mountain. Stallions, who now sit five points clear of fifth-placed FC Bougainville, were buoyed by league-leading goalscorer Stahl Gubag, who hit two more goals to bring his season tally to eight, as well as a brace from Graham Yamre and a cherry-on-top late fifth from Papalau Awele, who hadn’t scored since the opening day of the season.
Stahl Gubag celebrates scoring against Hekari United back in January. Photo: PNGFA
In the bottom half of the table, Gulf Komara secured an important 4-0 victory away at Morobe Wawens in Lae, which saw them rise three places to 6th. Goals were scored by Rupa Emil (2), Pokana Kopi and Numa Kila, while FC Bougainville and Morobe United played out an entertaining 2-2 draw, which helps neither side in their faint hopes of a tour four finish. Bougainville, who were without leading scorer Jonathan Allen, were trailing 1-0 at half-time thanks to a Bruce Tiampo goal, but were able to produce an impressive comeback in the second half thanks to goals from Gregory Togubai and Philemon Eaka to lead 2-1. However, a Henry Gawi equaliser for Morobe United meant the spoils were shared between the two sides.
Results
Lae City 8-1 FC Kutubu Morobe Wawens 0-4 Gulf Komara Hekari United 0-0 Vitiaz United Morobe United 2-2 FC Bougainville Star Mountain 0-5 Tusbab Stallions
The first Group C match was contested by Solomon Warriors and AS Tiare Tahiti at Stade Numa Daly. The Tahitian side fought hard but they could not find the net while the Warriors scored their only goal in the second half.
Solomon Warriors needed to find some solutions as they could not count on Tony Kaltack and Loea Mani who were not cleared to play the Champions League. Dennis Ifunaoa started the match as a striker while Gibson Daudau and Molea Tigi were the wingers. Ifunaoa’s moves were being important for his team because it helped his teammates to find some space in Tiare’s defense.
Both teams tried to put some pressure on the opponent’s ball possession and attack with some consistency. Warriors had the best chances in the first half while Tiare Tahiti had some opportunities through set-piece plays as they were not so fast with the ball. Odo Chabi from Benin was the only player from the Tahitian side that tried to speed up the pace in the first half.
The second half started with some emotion as both teams were trying to open the scoreboard. Molea Tigi dribbled his opponent and he was fouled inside the box. Ni-Vanuatu midfielder John Alick’s shot from the penalty spot was saved by AS Tiare Tahiti’s keeper Michel Manea. It was the necessary flame to set some fire in the match.
Manea saved the penalty taken by John Alick. Source: OFC Media
The Tahitian side started to press and take the control of the match when Solomon Warriors made its first substitution: Lency Norman replaced Molis Junior Gagame that did not have a good performance. This replacement changed the players’ position in Warriors attack. Norman became the striker and Dennis Ifunaoa was moved to the left winger while Molea Tigi started to play as an attacking midfielder.
The Solomon Islands side returned to the match and it did not take so long to score. Gibson Daudau crossed from the right wing and Dennis Ifunaoa headed it to the net.
Ifunaoa (left) celebrating his goal against AS Tiare Tahiti. Source: OFC Media
Tiare Tahiti made some changes after suffering the goal: Heiarii Maperi joined the pitch while Harold Avodagbe from Benin was backed. It was a very intelligent move as Avodagbe controlled the midfield after this change. He delievered nice passes and was the most important player of the team in the last minutes as they were chasing the goal.
Tiare Tahiti tried hard but they could not find the net. At the final whistle the score was 1-0 for Solomon Warriors that are now leading the Group C.
Despite creating good opportunities, Warriors had two clear problems: the distance between the players and the space they left in the middle of the pitch that made Tiare’s life easier in the midfield. John Alick played very well passing the ball but he was not very effective on pressing his opponents. For the Tahitian side, goalkeeper Michel Manea had an outstanding performance while winger Tevairoa Tehuritaua played very well. Avodagbe and Chabi also performed well.
The next Group C match will be contested by AS Magenta and AS Tiare Tahiti on Wednesday. You can watch Ifunaoa’s goal in the video below:
The fans of football in New Zealand are more than satisfied with the offensive power shown by all clubs in action in the weekend of football in the ISPS Handa Premiership, the top-tier league of New Zealand. 15 goals were scored in the three matches played – resulting in a fantastic average of 5 goals scored per game.
Garbhan Coughlan was instrumental for Southern win – Southern Media
The first match of the weekend took place at Bluewater Stadium, Napier where the hosts Hawke’s Bay United faced Southern United – and the team coached by Chris Greatholder will want to forget rapidly what happened in their own stadium.
The tall striker Ihaia Delaney scored in the 5th minute of play to put the home side upfront; the equalizer came throught the efforts of the Irish striker Garbhan Coughlan already in the final stages of the first half. But the 1-1 was not the scoreline at the break: the Japanese midfielder Sho Goto scored at the 45th minute to keep HBU upfront at half time.
Just after three minutes into the second half, the talented forward Cody Brook scored the second for the visitors to level the match again. But for the joy of the home fans, the same Sho Goto scored another goal to put Hawke’s Bay upfront at the 54th minute.
But then the nightmare started for Hawke’s Bay: Garbhan Coughlan scored at the 65th minute to equalize and at the 78th minute the forward Adam Hewson scored the fourth and final goal of the encounter to give three valuable points for Southern in the standings.
What a season Dane Schnell is having – Photosport
Waitakere is back to the winning ways after beating Hamilton Wanderers at Seddon Fields, in Auckland. The team coached by Paul Hobson had a fantastic start to pull ahead with a goal coming from Dane Schnell at tthe 4th of the clash.
Still in the first half, Alex Connor-McClean scored another to double the lead for the home side. To give final numbers to the scoreline, the same Dane Schnell stepped up to score his 9th goal of the season – a fantastic season so far for the young talented midfielder.
The win gives puts Waitakere United in the 3rd place in the process, four points away the 4th placed side so far in the standings Eastern Suburubs. Hamilton Wanderers continue to battle for a spot, having the same 19 points of Eastern Suburbs, Tasman and Southern in the process.
Team Wellington guarantees their spot in the semifinals – TW Media
The powerhouse Team Wellington had no difficulties to surpass Eastern Suburbs at David Farrington Park. Despite suffering an early from Kingsley Sinclair, TeeDubs shown a lot of quality still in the first half to bounce back in the game.
Andy Bevan, the Portuguese striker João Moreira and the North-Irish full-back Rory McKeown scored one goal each to give Team Wellington the lead at the break over Eastern Suburbs by 3-1.
In the second half, the current 2nd placed side in the process scored another throught the efforts of Rory McKeown to seal an impressive 4-1 victory over the current title holders of the national league. The win confirmed a spot for Team Wellington in the semifinals of the ISPS Handa Premiership 2019/20 edition.
The Solomon Islands national champions Solomon Warriors will take on the debutants from Tahiti at Stade Numa Daly in the first match of the group C of OFC Champions League 2020. The Solomon Islanders will not count on two important players in the group stage – Loea Mani and Tony Kaltack – and will hope to use their experience in the tournament to surpass the current runners-up from Tahiti.
The Tahitians will want to impress in their first time in the regional tournament and will rely on the experience of their captain Tevaihau Tehuritaua and the Tahitian international Manarii Porlier upfront. The green and white side will also expect a good performance from their two imports from Benin: the midfielder Brison Avodagbé and the forward Bio Odo Chabi.
The striker from Benin (green) Bio Odo Chabi – OFC Media
Tony Kaltack was the top scorer for Solomon Warriors in their winning campaign at Telekom S-League – his absence will be a huge blow for Warriors. The Solomon Islands champions will expect the experienced Dennis Ifunaoa can take the responsibilty to put his side forward in order to achieve a very important victory. The also experienced Gibson Daudau can be also very influential for the Solomon Islanders upfront, alongside another important offensive options as Molea Tigi and Jerry Donga.
Dennis Ifunaoa is the main forward for Warriors in absence of Kaltack – S-League Media
The Solomon Islands international and team captain Haddis Aengari might be the crucial piece of Warriors defence, alongside the also Solomon Islands national team member Emmanuel Poila.
The Most Valuable Player of the Telekom S-League 2019 season, the Ni-Vanuatu international John Alick, is set to be the star-player of Warriors in the OFC Champions League. The midfielder can contribute offensively and also defensively, being a key player for the sucess of the Honiara-based club.
Both sides really need to start well their campaigns in the competitions: the Cook Islanders of Tupapa Maraerenga withdrew from the tournament after problems with their squad, something that adds much more importance to this initial clash in New Caledonia.
