Oceania Football Center

Three wins in a row for Team Wellington but Auckland City remains on top

The weekend of football in New Zealand top tier saw the recovery of Team Wellington confirmed as they demolished Southern United at David Farrigton Park. After a winless period, the club from the capital could record their third win in a row. Despite their efforts, their distance to Auckland City who currently sits first in the ladder is still significant, with three points separating the two sides.

Myer Bevan could not keep his goalscoring form against Eastern Suburbs – *ACFC Media*

The Gridlock Derby between Auckland City and Eastern Suburbs could not have a winner. The Kiwitea Street saw the best team so far in the league to a goaless draw to the current ISPS Handa Premiership title holders. Myer Bevan could not score for the seventh game in a row, but he is still the player who most scored in the league with nine.

Differently from Auckland, in Wellington we saw six goals in the draw of Wellington Phoenix Reserves and Canterbury United. George King found the nets for Canterbury, but just two minutes later Ahmed Othman found an equalizer for the young side of Wellington Phoenix. Byron Heath put Welligton upfront at the 19th minute of play and just in the second half the veteran Aaron Clapham could find the nets to put a 2-2 in the scoreline. In the final minutes more two goals for each side, Ahmed Othman scored once more for his side and Juan Chang put the final numbers to the scoreborad at the 97th – injury time – to grab a point for his side.

Image may contain: one or more people, people playing sports, stadium, grass, child and outdoor — Juan Chang celebrates his late equalizer – *Phoenix Media*

In Napier, Hawke’s Bay United saw Waitakere United score first through the effort of Jake Porter. The American striker Ahinga Selemani scored to level the match for HBU, but Lachlan McIsaac put Waitakere once again ahead just before half time.

The second half was entirely dominated by Hawke’s Bay since they could score three goals to bounce back in the match. Ihaia Delaney was key for his side scoring a brace in the match and with Joshua Signey adding another, to win again in the compeition by 4-2.

Image may contain: 1 person, outdoor — Hawke’s Bay players celebrate one of their four goals – *Steph Gunter*

Finally Hamilton Wanderers got back to their winning days; they won away from home Tasman United at Trafalgar Park with a decisive goal of the Papua New Guinean international Tommy Semmy. Wanderers scored first through the captain Derek Tieku, but Matt Todd-Smith leveled for Tasman at the 25th minute of play. The negative record seemed to continue after the youngster Jesse Randall scored for Tasman at the injury time of the first half – his first goal at senior level.

But the second half told another story in favour of Hamilton. A penalty well taken by Jake Butler and a beautiful free-kick of Tommy Semmy sealed the second win for Hamilton in the league.

Hamilton celebrates Tieku goal – *NZF Media*

Team Wellington kept their good run with a third victory in a row with massive result against Southern United at home – a 6-1 win proved the quality the former OFC Champions League winners. The brace of the young gun Jack-Henry Sinclair, the 5th goal of the season of the striker Hamish Watson and the first senior goal for the 17-year old Marko Stamenic marked the win of TeeDubs. Garbhan Coughlan scored the consolation goal for the men from Dunedin.

Image may contain: 2 people, people smiling, people playing sports and outdoor — Marko Stamenic scored his first senior goal for Team Wellington – *NZF Media*

Auckland City continues in the top of the table with 17 points now, but saw their five-point lead recuded to three after a draw at home against Eastern Suburbs. Team Wellington is now closer with 14 points and Hawke’s Bay United and Eastern Suburbs complete the current top four teams for playoff – the full standings and goalscorers you can see by clicking here.

Canterbury Pride wins National Women’s League

The most important league of women’s football in New Zealand had its decisive game last weekened where Canterbury United Pride faced Northern Lights to decide the champions of the National Women’s League.

No photo description available. — The National Women’s League trophy – *NZF Media*

The second half was where the two goals of the game happened: Gabi Rennie scored for Canterbury United Pride at the 56th minute of the game, but Northern Lights found an equalizer eight minutes later throught the effort of the young talented forward Kelli Brown.

The final whistle for the regulation time saw both teams leveled in the scoreline and an extra-time period was necessary. Despite the both sides efforts, none of the teams could score a goal to win the league during the extra-time and the game needed to be decided on the penalty shootout – where Canterbury could seal their title, the second in two years.

The ‘back to back’ champions Canterbury Pride – *NZF Media*

The ‘Team of the Season‘ had three players of Northern Lights and five of the winners Canterbury Pride. Despite the both sides making it to the finals, the top goalscorer of the season was not member of any of the two teams – Emma Rolston of Capital Football scored ten goals in the season and claimed the golden boot award.

Tommy Semmy scores and helps Wanderers to beat Tasman

Hamilton Wanderers traveled to Nelson to face Tasman United at Trafalgar Park for the seventh matchweek of 2019-20 ISPS Handa Premiership. It was a very important match for both teams because they are not having a good season so far.

See also: Semmy and Wanderers are not having a good start of season
See also: Tommy Semmy: a story of a hardowrker

Derek Tieku opened the scoreboard for Wanderers in the 16th minute but Matt Tod-Smith and 17 years old forward Jesse Randall netted for Tasman to take the 2-1 lead. Jake Butler netted a penalty kick in the 50th minute to tie the match.

Tommy Semmy scored a nice free-kick goal to give Wanderers’ the 3-2 lead and the three points. It was the second goal of Tommy Semmy in the league – two free-kick goals. You can check his goal against Tasmn United by clicking here.

Tommy Semmy celebrating a goal for Hamilton Wanderers.

Hamilton Wanderers won two out of six matches in the current season and Semmy scored in both wins (the other win was against Eastern Suburbs in the second matchweek) showing that he is such an important player for them.

Wanderers’ is currently in the tenth and last position with six points.

Stefan Marinovic wins A-League “Save of the Round 10” award

New Zealander goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic won A-League “Save of the Round 10” award. This award is given to the goalkeeper who made the most difficult/beautiful save of the matchweek.

Marinovic made a brilliant save against Melbourne Victory last weekend and you can watch it by clicking here.

Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic had an outstanding performance against Melbourne Victory

It is not the first time that Marinovic is awarded a “Save of the Round”. He also won this award in the first matchweek of 2019-20 A-League season. Marinovic is 28 years old and capped 24 times for New Zealand National Football Team.

OFC Champions League: venues and schedules released

Oceania Football Confederation released the venues and schedules of 2020 OFC Champions League. The Preliminary Round is scheduled to begin on 25 January while the final match to decide the championship winners will be played on 16 May. You can check the scheduled matches by clicking here.

Check the venues and schedules below:

PRELIMINARY ROUND
Venue: 🇳🇿 Ngahue Reserve
Dates: 25-31 January 2020
Teams: 🇨🇰 Tupapa Maraerenga, 🇼🇸 Lupe o le Soaga and 🇹🇴 Veitongo

GROUP A
Venue: 🇵🇬 PNG Football Stadium
Dates: 16-22 February 2020
Teams: 🇳🇨 Hienghène Sport, 🇳🇿 Eastern Suburbs, 🇵🇬 Hekari United, 🇻🇺 Galaxy FC

GROUP B
Venue: 🇻🇺 Luganville Soccer City Stadium
Dates: 15-21 February 2020
Teams: 🇻🇺 Malampa Revivors, 🇵🇬 Lae City, 🇸🇧 S-League runners-up, 🇫🇯 Lautoka

GROUP C
Venue: 🇳🇨 Stade Numa Daly
Dates: 01-07 March 2020
Teams: 🇳🇨 AS Magenta, 🇵🇫 Tiare Tahiti, 🇸🇧 S-League champions, 🏁 Preliminary Round runners-up

GROUP D
Venue: 🇵🇫 Stade Pater
Dates: 01-07 March 2020
Teams: 🇫🇯 Ba, 🇳🇿 Auckland City, 🇵🇫 AS Vénus, 🏁 Preliminary Round winners

Oceania Football Center wishes good luck to all teams.

Promotions for Mobil Super Ligue set in New Caledonia

The last weekend in New Caledonia was the decisive moment for four teams that took part in the Relegation/Promotion playoffs for the most important football league in New Caledonia, the Mobil Super Ligue. In the previous season of the top tier, won by Hienghène Sport, the direct relegated side was ES Wacaele that could not establish themselves in the Super Ligue going back to the regional championship of the New Caledonian Islands. Trio Kedeigne ended 9th in the run and had still a chance to battle against relegation in a one-legged decisive match – Trio was draw against the champions of South Provincial Committee AS Kunié. In the other decisive match the champions of the North Provincial Committee JS Baco faced the champion of the Islands Qanono Sport.

The matches were held in neutral venue in Mont-Dore. The first match saw the known side JS Baco to grant their spot once again at the first tier of football in New Caledonia. The north team already took part in many occasions of the Mobil Super Ligue.

The dream to keep at the first division proved to be only an illusion for Trio Kedeigne – they lost their place against the South winners AS Kunié – a much celebrate win for everyone in the region of Kunié.

JS Baco and AS Kunié, the new teams in Mobil Super Ligue 2020 – *FCF Foot*

Both sides will have the chance to join themselves to the former finalists of the OFC Champions League AS Magenta and Hienghène Sport – the last side the winner of the continental glory that recently played at a major FIFA tournament, the FIFA Clubs World Cup.

Roy Krishna wins ‘Goal of the Week’ award in Indian Super League

The Fijian wonder Roy Krishna keeps proving he is one of the best ever player produced in Oceania. The forward is currently the top goalscorer of the 2019/20 season of Indian Super League for his side ATK. Despite suffering a 2-1 defeat last weekend against Goa and losing the 1st place in the standings, the Fijian was awarded the ‘Goal of the Week’ award due a fantastic goal scored scored against NorthEast United in the seventh matchweek in the league – you can watch the goal by clicking here.

A imagem pode conter: 1 pessoa, em pé, estádio e atividades ao ar livre — Krishna receives his award – *ISL*

The Fijian is still the at the top of the stats in the golden boot race in India with six goals scored in eight matches played. The Spaniard striker Sergio Castel of Jamshedpur comes just behind Krishna with five goals scored.

Pago Youth withdrew from 2020 Oceania Champions League

🇧🇷 Clique aqui para ler em português

Oceania Football Confederation recently released the 2020 OFC Champions League group stage draw and its venues. Now they released the Preliminary Round draw with a huge surprise: only three teams will play it.

The OFC Champions League Preliminary Round is usually played by four teams: one from American Samoa, one from Cook Islands, one from Samoa and one from Tonga. However the 2020 edition will have only three teams in this stage because Pago Youth (American Samoa representant) withdrew from the competition due to a measles outbreak that is ravaging the country. Tonga and Samoa are also suffering with this epidemic but Lupe o le Soaga (Samoa) and Veitongo (Tonga) will take part of the continental competition alongside with Tupapa Maraerenga from Cook Islands.

The qualifying tournament will take place across three match days at Ngahue Reserve in Auckland on January 25, 28, and 31.

The winner of the Qualifying Stage tournament will join Group D in the OFC Champions League 2020, alongside AS Venus (Tahiti), Ba FC (Fiji), and Auckland City FC (New Zealand). The runner-up in qualifying will enter Group C with AS Magenta (New Caledonia), the S-League winner from the Solomon Islands, and AS Tiare Tahiti (Tahiti).

Nawo and Kaua waiting for sponsorship for trialling in Europe

It was recently reported that Atkin Kaua and Joses Nawo are very close to have an opportunity as footballers at Europe. However it seems that there is a big problem behind good news: money.

According to reliable sources, Kaua and Nawo have the opportunity to trial at Tarxien Rainbows from Malta but they need to find someone to fund them otherwise they will not travel to Europe. They might be losing the biggest opportunity of their lives due to lack of sponsorship and funding.

Kaua (left) and Nawo (right) are waiting for someone to fund the trip to Malta

Malta’s transfer window closes on 31 January 2020.

Warriors and Eels draw, Isabel remains on third

Another gameweek is gone in the 2019-20 Telekom S-League with some important results that may be very decisive to the final league standings. Scroll down and check what happened during the weekend in the S-League!

HENDERSON EELS 2-2 SOLOMON WARRIORS

The most important match of the season ended drawn. Raphael Lea’i scored early in the beginning of the match to give Eels the lead but Benjamin Totori tied the game with a close-range finish in the first half for Warriors.

Tutizama Tanito restored Eels’ lead with a stunning goal. Eels’ goalkeeper Anthony Talo brought down Totori in the box as referee George Time awarded a penalty for Warriors. Ni-Vanuatu midfielder John Alick netted the penalty kick to tie the match.

Warriors are leading the league with 35 points while Eels have 32 points with two matches left to play for each team.

Lea’i scored but it was not enough to beat Warriors. Source: S-League Media

LAUGU UNITED 9-0 REAL KAKAMORA

Laugu smashed Real Kakamora to take the fifth position in the league. Darold Kakasi netted four goals while Mathias Iani scored a hat-trick to bring Laugu back to the winning pathway. The other two goals were scored by Clayton Menapa and Leslie Ramo.

Real Kakamora is having an awful season. They lost all their matches so far.

Kakasi scored four goals against Real Kakamora. Source: S-League Media

ISABEL UNITED 12-0 GUADALCANAL

Just like Real Kakamora, Guadalcanal is having a very harsh season winning only one match so far (against Real Kakamora). They were thrashed by Isabel United this weekend with a heavy 12-0 loss. Unfortunately there is no reliable information about the goalscorers.

Isabel United keeps their good streak to remain on the third position with 25 points.

Players fighting for the ball. Source: S-League Media

KOSSA 6-2 MALAITA KINGS

Kossa won again to keep pursuing Isabel United for the third position in the league table. Harrison Mala scored his second straight hat-trick and he has now 12 goals scored in the league, half of them were netted in the last two matches. Robert Laua, Lore Fonaota and Barrie Limoki also scored for Kossa. Malaita Kings’ goals were scored by Papua New Guinea International Nigel Dabinyaba and good striker Edward Huniuehu.

Malaita Kings is in the sixth position with 18 points while Kossa is in fourth with 23 points.

You can check the league standings and the topscorers by clicking here.