The Oceania football community got shocked after the PNG National Soccer League champions Lae City thrashed the formers runners-up of the OFC Champions League Lautoka by 7-0 in the second matchday of the group B of the current edition of the tournament held in Luganville. The result could have been even worse for the Fijians, but the seven goals suffered were too much for the current leaders of the Vodafone Premier League in Fiji.
Raymond Gunemba, the captain of Lae City, talked to Oceania Football Center and gave one possible answer for what happened in that match: they knew how to beat Lautoka, they watched their previous game and explored the mistakes of the defensive system of the Fijian-based club.
Gunemba (left) celebrates alongside Jacob Sabua (right) – OFC Media
“After we watched their first game against the hosts [Malampa Revivors] we were had confidence that we were going to beat them [Lautoka] and with that confidence, when we meet them all the players do really step up from our previous game and we come out with the result“, stated the captain-fantastic Raymond Gunemba. The forward also added the mistakes Lae City detected from the first game of Lautoka that helped them to win: “Their defensive players are slow and the speed in attack was our advantage“, said Gunemba.
The large scoreline made by Lae could had been even bigger; Gunemba mentioned that “[…] many people said this, but we are happy with the win and we have nothing more say about it“.
The sixth goal of the clash – scored by RG7 – was one of the most beautiful goals scored in the OFC Champions League 2020 so far – lobbing the goalkeeper with a fantastic finish: “I have watched him several times moving out from his goal, this is the reason why when I received the ball I just lobbed it over“, explained the Papua New Guinean international.
Gunemba and his teammates are set to for their last match in Vanautu against the hosts Malampa Revivors. A draw will be enough for the team captained by Raymond Gunemba to proceed for the third straight time to the knock-out stage of OFC Champions League.
The last matchday of OFC Champions League Group B will be played on this Friday. Source: OFC Media
The Group B of 2020 OFC Champions League is coming to its end. Two matches will be played this Friday to decide the two teams that will advance to the knockout stage. Oceania Football Center prepared this article to show what each team needs to do to seal their spot in the quarterfinals.
First of all, we need to check the current standings of the Group B and you can check it in the picture below:
GROUP B STANDINGS – SOURCE: OFC MEDIA
And now it is time to check what team must do to qualify:
Current Group B leaders, Lae City has the easiest path to qualify. The Papua New Guinean side just need a draw to advance to the knockout stage. Lae City can qualify even if they lose but in this case they would need to cheer for a Lautoka’s win against Henderson Eels.
A win seals a spot for Henderson Eels in the quarterfinals, but the Solomon Islands side can qualify with a draw if Malampa Revivors lose to Lae City.
Malampa Revivors need to beat Lae City to qualify. There is also a tiny possibility to qualify with a draw but it is almost impossible as they scored less goals than Henderson Eels in the tournament. Revivors and Eels have the same amount of points (two) and the same goal difference (zero) but Eels scored more goals (five) than Revivors (three). So if both teams draw, Malampa Revivors need to finish the group stage with more goals scored than Eels.
Despite being in the last position with only one point, the Fijian side still have good chances to qualify. They need to win Henderson Eels and cheer for a Malampa Revivors’ loss or draw against Lae City.
On Wednesday afternoon, Hekari United and Hienghène Sport played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in Port Moresby in Group A of the OFC Champions League, a result which doesn’t really help either side but does keep both in slight contention to qualify for the knockout stages this coming Saturday.
But neither side will be particularly happy with their performance so far in their opening two matches, having both picked up just one point in two games, and despite a tough group, both will have expected to have done better against the debutants in their group, Eastern Suburbs and ABM Galaxy.
We must not forget that these two sides are the only two in OFC Champions League history outside of New Zealand and Australia to have lifted the trophy at the end of the campaign. While Hienghène’s success came much more recently, this year is the tenth anniversary of Hekari’s success, and the side retain three players who were key to that championship campaign; and therein lies the problem.
The three men are David Muta, Michael Foster, and Koriak Upaiga. It cannot be denied that all three have had illustrious and successful careers, both domestically and internationally, but it also cannot be denied that they are ageing. The fact that Hekari have not found a suitable replacement for David Muta, 32, was blindingly obvious against Hienghène, with the midfield maestro suspended after receiving two yellow cards against Eastern Suburbs on Sunday. The hole was filled in part by Michael Foster, 34, who in his day was a fantastic midfielder – he is the record-holder for international caps for his country, after all – but he really showed his age against Hienghène, and was poor on and off the ball. The club’s reliance on Muta this season and in past seasons has meant that Willie Gia, 28, who also helped fill the hole left by Muta on Wednesday, hasn’t earned nearly enough playing time since signing for the club in 2012, and as such looked in dire need of match fitness against the reigning champions.
Michael Foster found it difficult to fill the hole left by David Muta’s absence. Photo: OFC Media via Phototek
Hekari also lost two men to injury midway through the second half, which also exposed their lack of depth. While still leading 2-1, Brazilian Erick Joe, who scored Hekari’s first goal and has looked solid since his arrival at the club, was clattered by teammate Ishmael Pole as the ‘keeper came to sweep up an attacking through-ball, and had to be substituted. As a result, Otto Kusunan came on at left-back, with captain Koriak Upaiga, moving into the centre. This wasn’t an ideal switch despite Upaiga’s versatility, and may have indirectly led to the confusion in the box shortly before Hienghène were awarded a late penalty to equalise, with players having to adapt to new positions. Patrick Aisa’s injury in the 55th minute also meant that an ineffective Nathan James took his place, while Samoan Vito Laloata didn’t really have enough time to impact the game in the nine minutes of injury time that he was given.
And while he scored from the spot and showed flashes of brilliance and flair throughout the game, Brazilian Vinicius Reis lost his head a little as the second half wore on, as frustration began to grow that Hekari were unable to finish off the game. Vinicius picked up a yellow card for dissent during the second half after a particularly combative confrontation.
Hekari’s Vinicius squares up to Hienghène’s Jordan Dinet midway through the second half. Photo: OFC Media via Phototek
In my preview of the domestic season in Papua New Guinea, I questioned whether Hekari’s reliance on older players would haunt them this year and in years to come. Have those fears been realised under the spotlight of the Champions League? There are young talents in the side, for sure, but the veterans that hold the team together are already past their peak, and no real replacements have been blooded. That needs to change if Hekari are to regain dominance both domestically and continentally in years to come.
For Hienghène, they had problems at both ends of the field. Creatively, they struggled, having had just three shots in the entire game. They were unable to break Hekari’s high line and were often caught offside – captain, Bertrand Kai, 36, was the culprit on several occasions, again bringing into focus how much longer the side should be relying on a player closer to 40 than 30. At the other end of the pitch, they allowed Hekari a host of chances, and with better finishing from their opponents, they could have been well behind at half-time, instead of just trailing by a single goal.
The fighting spirit the side demonstrated to claw the game back to 2-2 was admirable, and shows that the desire to win has not been doused by their triumph last season, but their performance so far in the competition begs the question: have Hienghène remained stagnant in the last year while other clubs from elsewhere have surpassed them? Galaxy, who have looked mightily impressive so far, have shown shrewd recruitment strategy, bringing players from the Solomon Islands, Brazil and even Englishman Terence Carter. Eastern Suburbs built a squad almost from scratch, led by lethal Uruguayan Martin Bueno, who has four goals in two games. Hienghène, meanwhile, are the only side in the group with a team consisting solely of local players. Has this lack of growth and ambition ultimately been their downfall in this year’s competition?
You can check the goals from this match in the video below:
It is going to be Mani’s second year in the country. He arrived there last year to study at Long Bay College while he had the opportunity to train with Glenfield Rovers’ squad by that time – “Last year I was studying at Long Bay College and training with Glenfield Rovers but I could not play for Rovers because I was under aged. But now I am 18 so I am able to play for a senior team in New Zealand,” said Mani who turned 18 earlier this month.
The Solomon Islander was a key player for Long Bay College last year. He was named the team’s MVP in the Rex Dawkins Tournament, a traditional youth tournament in New Zealand.
Charles Mani playing for Long Bay College in 2019.
He did not stop studying and now he is back for one more year at College. However he is currently training with another team that plays Lotto NRFL football league system – “I am still studying at Long Bay College and I will also represent them in the School Futsal and School Football League… But I am also training with Hibiscus Coast AFC,” he stated.
Mani is still on trial with Hibiscus Coast but he is optimistic about his situation. It has been one week since he started training with the team and he will have the opportunity to represent them this Saturday – “It is a friendly so the coach can select players for the final squad for Winter League […] Two trials were already done and the number of players in the trainings has reduced,” pointed Mani – “Everything is good here but I need to familiarize myself with my teammates. Things are going to be fine as time goes by,” he added.
Charlie keeps focused on studying but he also puts lots of dedication on his football career. He represented Solomon Islands in the U17 FIFA World Cup last year and it would not be a surprise if we see him climbing the stairs to reach higher football leagues soon.
After some wait, Solomon Islands striker Ali Mekawir finally had his VISA renewed and now he has the permission to stay in Europe for more time. He travelled to France with some other players from Solomon Islands to get their VISA’s renewal.
The 19-year-old player is currently attached to Langney Wanderers, a semi-professional team that plays one of the leagues that compose the 9th tier of English football. He has already represented Solomon Islands National Football Team at U17 and U20 levels.
Ali Mekawir
Mekawir has been impressing those who watch him playing and there are lots of expectations on him. According to reliable sources, he is going to have the opportunity to trial in some clubs from other European countries in the next transfer window.
He arrived in England last year as one of the players that were brought to the country by Royals Academy, a football Academy from Solomon Islands that holds a partnership with Stars Football Academy from England.
New Zealand international Ryan Thomas has been playing in Netherlands since 2013 when he joined PEC Zwolle. After having good seasons there, he had the opportunity of his life by joining PSV Eindhoven, one of the biggest teams in Netherlands.
After the summer break, he made his entrance at Herdgang – the training ground and youth academy of PSV – in 2018. He soon discovered what it’s like to play at a top club – “The club is bigger in everything. The level is higher, everything is arranged even better for you; that’s really great. If you also look at the talent within the group […] We have so many qualities,” he said.
Thomas signed with PSV in 2018. Source: PSV Official Media
He started training with the team and people are getting impressed with the quality of the young midfielder from New Zealand. However on August 17 – after just two weeks in training – during a four to four game, Ryan fell down in the field. After an MRI scan in the hospital it was clear: front cruciate ligament torn and he would be able to return to footaball from six to nine months.
It was a shock for Thomas but he kept the optimism – “At first I thought: okay, six to nine months. Then I’m the one who does it in six months“. Optimism soon gave way to frustration and Ryan started to be mentally affected by the situation – “It was so frustrating that my head constantly wanted things my body could not do. It was often a step forward, and two back,” said the 25-year-old midfielder.
“You can safely call his behavior depressed in the period,” said Ryan’s wife Nikky. Facing that situation was more difficult to the midfielder because everything was new to him – a new club, a new city, new teammates – “I can’t say a bad word about the boys in the selection and the staff. Even though I only trained with the group for two weeks, they always made me feel like I could go to them. But I am not really the type that the team looks for boys to deal with outside of football. After a day at the club, I prefer to be with my family rather than visit teammates every day,” he pointed.
Ryan couldn’t really hear about football during the injury and he confessed – “I actually only watched PSV, so I could answer when the coach asked me something“.
Although rehabilitation took longer than expected, Ryan tried to stay more positive – “Nikky (wife) and Lily (daughter) really pulled me out of the valley during that period. And then I was allowed to start training with the ball at a given moment. That was really a moment when things started to look better again“. He started to appreciate small things, such as scoring in a four against four or something similar. Ryan slowly came back to the group and got to know his teammates, the city and the club better and better.
Ryan Thomas kept training hard to come back to PSV squad. Source: Stuff.co.nz
At the beginning of September 2019, more than twelve months after getting injured, the bad time came to its end: he could finally make his long-awaited debut for being the first team of his “new club”.
He played 30 minutes in the 1-0 win against FC Köln in a friendly match and not much later he took a seat on the bench in Eredivisie games. He was allowed to come in five minutes before the end against VVV-Venlo and three weeks later he had the opportunity to be named for PSV’s starting eleven agianst AZ Alkmaar – “Well, AZ home… I was allowed to start in the base due to a number of injuries and suspensions within the team. Fantastic of course. And then that tackle. Well what should I say about it? Have you seen it? It’s just a red card, of course, I can’t help it. It was not my intention, I wanted to put my body in between”. After VAR consultations, Ryan was presented with a red card in the first half after a foul on AZ midfielder Fredrik Midtsjø.
Ryan Thomas was sent off in his first official match as a starter for PSV. Source: Photo Prestige
The storm is gone and now Ryan is being an important player for the team. He scored two goals in the last two matches and he assumed that he is happy with his new role as a false attacker alongside striker Sam Lammers. “The place is more attacking than I was used to, but it is going very well. The cooperation with Sam is also going well and for me it is very nice that I have again picked up my goal.”
Ryan Thomas celebrates his goal against ADO Den Haag. Source: Pro Shots
Thomas is only 25 years old but he is already one of the oldest players in PSV’s squad – “Despite the fact that I am not yet very old, I can also add something to the team in terms of experience. We only have a few guests older than 26, so the team is very young. It is good to have so much talent, but it is difficult to immediately convert that into results and titles. Immediately there is so much pressure on those young boys who already wear our team“.
He has already returned to New Zealand National Football Team as he played one international friendly against Ireland in November. Now it is time for Thomas to retake his important role in the national team and help his country to qualify for 2022 FIFA World Cup that will be held in Qatar.
PSV is currently in the fourth position at 2019-20 Eredivisie and they are still alive in the fight for a spot in the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League.
After lots of rumours, four Fijian players are ready to move to Australia and play for Frankston Pines FC, a football team that currently plays the State League 3 of the football league system in Victoria region.
According to reliable sources, the visas have been granted and the players will be travelling to Australia soon. It was already confirmed by Frankston Pines FC media that Savenaca Baledrokadroka (Rewa), Peni Tuigulagula (Nadi), Tito Vodawaqa (Nadi) and Asaeli Batikasa (Labasa) are the ones who are going to play in Australia.
Baledrokadroka is the most experienced player from this list. The 20-year-old flanker has seven caps for Fiji National Football Team and he was the U23 team captain in the OFC Olympic Qualifier held in Fiji last year.
Baledrokadroka playing for Fiji in the U23 Olympic Qualifier. Source: OFC Media
All these four players are very young and they have already capped for Fijian National Youth Teams. Akeimi Ralulu and Arami Manumanubai are two other players that might be joining Frankston Pines soon.
One of the best games so far of the current edition of the OFC Champions League saw the strong side of Galaxy FC surrender a two-goal lead for the ISPS Handa Premiership title holders Eastern Suburbs from New Zealand. The Ni-Vanuatu side was brave and displayed a very good match against the New Zealanders and a heartbreaking goal at injury time made both sides share the spoils.
Martin Bueno: the savior of Eastern Suburbs – OFC Media
The current PVFA Top Four champions, started strongly the first half being present at the defensive field of Eastern Suburbs. The attacking trio Terence Carter, Roberson and Gagame Feni were a real threat for the New Zealand side. Galaxy proved their attack is very strong when Roberson found the Englishman Terence Carter in the box after a fantastic combination – the striker made no mistake and put the ball in the nets of Danyon Drake to score the first and historical goal for Galaxy.
The New Zealand side was surprised with the good game displayed by the Ni-Vanuatu powerhouse; the lead was doubled after Eddison Stephen fights for the ball, recovers it in the area and finds the Brazilian star Roberson free in the box just tap home the second of Galaxy in the match.
Roberson celebrates with Barry Mansale his goal – OFC Media
Terence Carter had an injury still in the first half and needed to be replaced by the coach Batram Suri – the Ni-Vanuatu international Kensi Tangis was introduced in the match.
Galaxy kept strong upfront, not avoiding much spaces in the back. But, the story of the game changed when Barry Mansale made a silly foul inside the box – the third penalty Galaxy commits so far in the competition – and the powerful Martin Bueno scored through the spot kick to reduce the deficit for the New Zealanders. The 2-1 was the result at half time.
The turning point of the clas happened just early in the second half, when the midfielder Eddison Stephen was sent off after a reckless challenge in the middle of the park on an Eastern Suburbs player. Galaxy lost one player at the 52th minute of play: it would not be easy to hold the Auckland-based side with only 10-men.
Stephens (23) is sent off – OFC Media
Rapidly, Tony Readings introduced more offensive players in the match to pursue the needed goal to equalize the match. Batram Suri replaced Gagame Feni and introduced the central defender Joseph Iaruel to get stronger in the back.
The Brazilian Roberson had a chance to score his second in the process and the third for Galaxy when he recovered the ball inside the box after a mistake of Eastern Suburbs defense, but his shot went wide. The super-sub Frank Ruben almost score one of the contenders for the goal of the tournament from almost the middle of park with a fantastic long-range shot that hit the woodwork.
Galaxy could maintain their lead until the 92th minute of the game; again Martin Bueno shown his class to score the equalizer for Eastern Suburbs – denying what would have been a historical victory for the Ni-Vanuatu club. The ball was offered to Martin Bueno after it touched the defender Selwyn Vatu, in the only chance Eastern Suburbs and the striker had in the final 45 minutes of play, the ball went to nets of Seiloni Iaruel.
A hard-fought goal for a hard-fought draw – OFC Media
Galaxy suffered a heartbreaking goal, but they are still at the top of the group after this match in the goal difference as both Eastern Suburbs and Galaxy have now four points in the group A.
The New Zealanders even with numerical advantage were too slow to create goal scoring chances – they will need to improve. Galaxy shown a very good football and his country is surely proud of their big effort – Galaxy is real deal, they are in Oceania stage for the first time and the club works as a legit powerhouse. Unfortunately for the team coached by Batram Suri, the story of the game could be different if they did not lose one man early in the second half.
Both teams have one more match still to be played in the group and they will be looking to confirm their spots in the knock-out stage: Eastern Suburbs will take on Hienghène Sport, while Hekari United will be the opponents of Galaxy in the final group A matchday.
You can check all goals from this match in the video below:
The ISPS Handa Premiership weekend of football had only three matches in the schedule – the round was split due the OFC Champions League start -, but certainly the fans of the beautiful game in New Zealand are satisfied with the quality of the football played.
Auckland City smashed the last-placed side Canterbury United, no surprises; but in the other two matches of the weekend both Waitakere United and Hamilton Wanderers were surprised and lost important games in the process.
Cam Mackenzie scored the winner for Southern – Southern Media
Southern United took on Waitakere United in Dunedin and started very well the clash; a great play by the Irishman Garbhan Coughlan ended up in Cody Brook’s feet – the attacker made no mistake and opened the account for the home team at the 4th minute of the game.
Waitakere did not want to stop their great run, after a massive win over Eastern Suburbs in the previous round. The Spaniard Gerard Garriga Gibert scored the equalizer for Waitakere after a corner, the capitalised an error from Southern defense to head the ball to the nets to put the game leveled.
The 1-1 was the result of the first half, but in the final 45 minutes, Cam Mackenzie had the chance to put his side upfront again, the attacker did not hesitate to finish and score the second for the Dunedin-based side to put his team ahead. Mackenzie goal gave final numbers for the clash, ending up in a hard-fought 2-1 victory of the home side.
Callan Elliot (yellow) fights for the ball with Tommy Semmy – NZF Media
Hamilton Wanderers expected a win over the Phoenix Reserves at Eden Park in Auckland, but the outcome of the match was different than what the team coached by Kale Herbert wanted.
The New Zealand U20 national team player Callan Elliot opened the scoreline in favour of Wellington Phoenix reserves; the young team kept the control of the match and ended the first half with a narrow lead.
Hamilton managed to bounce in the game after an unfortunate own goal by Phoenix Reserves defense at the 58th minute of play. But the Eden Park curtain raiser clash for the Wellington Phoenix first team match would still see a goal in the encounter: the young Riley Bidois broke the hearts of Hamilton at the 89th minute of play to give his side a very important win the league.
Kaltak scored his second goal for ACFC since signed for the club – ACFC Media
The nightmare of Cantebury United continues: the team travelled to Auckland to take on the powerhouse Auckland City and suffered a big defeat. The bad moment continues after a dark run in the proccess – being the last placed team in the standings.
Auckland City started their dominant win with the legend Emiliano Tade ath the 7th minute of play. Seven minutes later, the Ni-Vanuatu international Brian Kaltak scored the second for the home team after a confusion in the box. Myer Bevan, Alfie Rogers and Jordan Vale would still score in the first half to give Auckland a shocking 5-0 lead at the half time.
The Navy Blues just managed their lead in the second half; Canterbury United was able to reduce the deficit throught the efforts of Aaron Clapham in the 78th of the match, but this was only a consolation goal for the coached by Lee Padmore.
To check the full standings, results and top scorers of the current edition of the ISPS Handa Premiership, visit the session of the league in our website.
The strong Eastern Suburbs are set for a big challenge against the great-performers Galaxy FC, that smashed the current champions of the OFC Champions League Hienghène Sport by 4-1 in the first match of the group A. The New Zealanders had to battle against the hosts of Hekari United to end up with a 2-1 win, even playing most of the second half with one-man advantage.
Both teams are playing for the first time the continental tournament, but they already got their first win the tournament in the debut as Galaxy won Hienghène Sport and Eastern Suburbs beat Hekari United.
Eastern Suburbs counted on the strong Uruguayan striker Martin Bueno – he scored a brace for the Lilywhites in their first challenge in the tournament and he was a constant threat to the Papua New Guinean defense. The talented midfielder Reid Drake was crucial in this match by assisting for Bueno’s first goal in the hard fought win of the Auckland-based club.
Bueno and his teammates celebrate their goal – OFC Media
The strong defensive system of Eastern Suburbs will have a big test ahead of Galaxy FC. The Ni-Vanuatu side coached by Batram Suri did not face any trouble to score four times against the reigning champions of the competition. Despite having some problems in defense, Galaxy was very dangerous through the likes of Roberson, Gagame Feni and Terence Carter upfront – a threat the defensive system led by Adam Thomas will need to deal with.
Batram Suri knows it will not be a easy clash for his team; Galaxy defense needs to improve if they want to control the powerful Martin Bueno and the talented players in the midfield Leon van de Hoven, Reid Drake and the Englishman Adam Thurston.
Roberson (center) and Carter (left) were lethal for Galaxy against Hienghène – OFC Media
The victorious team of this clash will grant a spot in the knockout stage of the OFC Champions League; a very good result for debutants in the competition, so we can really expect a very good match between both sides that want to keep the good moment and qualify for the decisive phase of the most important club football tournament in Oceania.
