Auckland City FC’s O-League defence is still on track after a 2-1 come-from-behind victory against New Caledonian club AS Magenta at Kiwitea Street on Sunday afternoon.

Two quick goals from Matt Williams and Daniel Koprivcic in the second half sealed the victory for City after an initial strike by 18-year-old Lamo Xewe had put the visitors ahead.

The defending champions are now two points clear of Waitakere United at the top of Group A while AS Magenta remain third ahead of Tahiti’s AS Manu Ura.

O-League newcomers Magenta will feel unlucky not to have picked up at least a point after going ahead in the 6th minute. New Caledonian international and dead-ball specialist Pierre Wajoka curled in a free-kick from the left for Noel Kaudre to flick onto Xewe who headed the ball past Paul Gothard from close range.

Auckland City almost had an equalizer two minutes later when Matt Williams headed a Ki Hyung Lee free-kick onto the cross bar for what proved to be their best chance of the half. The home side were then forced to make an early substitution as Alex Feneridis was carried off for a suspected ankle injury.

Magenta felt they had scored a second in the 36th minute when Xewe again headed home, this time from a Paul Poatinda cross, but the goal was called back for offside and the score remained 1-0 going into the break.

Adam Dickinson came on for Keryn Jordan at half-time and made an immediate impact teeing up Matt Williams inside the box for an easy side-footed equaliser in the 47th minute. Five minutes later Daniel Koprivcic broke free of his marker from a throw-in and placed the ball low past Jean Dounezeck for his fourth O-League goal.

Speaking after the match, coach Paul Posa paid credit to the New Caledonians and said his side were fortunate to get the result.

“They were technically very good and well organised so we’re pleased to get the 2-1win.”

Posa said it has been a juggling act getting his side ready for the current O-League and NZFC competitions as well as the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009 which kicks off on 9 December in Abu Dhabi.

“We’ve been through a couple of intense weeks of training and that has affected how we’ve played but the aim is to come out fresh for the FIFA event next month.”

Meanwhile AS Magenta coach Alain Moizan is fully focused on the O-League and said his side have a renewed sense of belief after today’s match.

“We approached this game with some apprehension after seeing Auckland City beat AS Manu Ura 5-0 in their first match but now we have more hope and confidence that we can match them.”

While admitting that only a win is good enough at this level, Moizan said there were positives to take out of the performance.

“Noel Kaudre usually plays as a forward but he did very well for us in midfield and our youngster Lamo Xewe was particularly impressive.”

For match day three, AS Magenta will play AS Manu Ura while Auckland City and Waitakere United will feature in the top-of-the-table clash.

Auckland City FC: 2 (Matt WILLIAMS 47, Daniel KOPRIVCIC 51)
AS Magenta: 1 (Lamo XEWE 6)
Half-time: 0-1
Sunday 8 November 2009
Kiwitea St
Auckland, New Zealand

2010 O-LEAGUE TABLE

Group A

Group B

Welcome to Kiwitea Street in Auckland for the 2010 O-League clash between Auckland City FC and AS Magenta.

Conditions are nice with fine weather and light wins as both the teams are now walking out to the field for this Group A match.

Please refresh your browser regularly to keep up with all the action.

The starting line-ups for Auckland City FC and AS Magenta are as follows:

Auckland City FC: 18. Paul GOTHARD  [GK], 3. Ian HOGG, 5. Matt WILLIAMS, 6. Ki-Hyung LEE, 7. James PRITCHETT, 11. Daniel KOPRIVCIC, 13. Alex FENERIDIS, 14. Keryn JORDAN, 15. Ivan VICELICH, 16. Jason HAYNE, 20. Greg UHLMANN
Substitutes: 1. Jacob SPOONLEY  [GK], 4. Sam CAMPBELL, 8. Chad COOMBES, 10. Grant YOUNG, 17. Adam McGEORGE, 22. Adam DICKINSON
Coach: Paul POSA [NZL]

AS Magenta: 1. Jean Yan DOUNEZECK [GK], 2. Benjamin LONGUE, 7. Noel KAUDRE, 9. Paul POATINDA, 10. Pierre WAJOKA, 14. Jules WEA, 15. Steeven LONGUE, 17. Andre SINEDO, 24. Lamo XEWE, 25. Joris GORENDIAWE, 32. Ludovic BOIT
Substitutes: 4. Emmanuel DIANAI, 6. Jedidja SAIKO,  11. Albert ITREMA, 28. Michel UREGEI, 29. Theodore KAUDRE, 33. Philippe KOKONE
Coach: Alain MOIZAN [NCL]

0' KICK-OFF

4' Auckland City FC have a free kick from the half-way line. Ki Hyung Lee takes and Ivan Vicelich wins the header but AS Magenta manage to clear the ball

6' GOAL Auckland City FC 0 AS MAGENTA 1 Lamo Xewe puts the New Caledonians ahead. Pierre Wajoka curled the ball in with his left from a free kick and Noel Kaudre flicked the ball onto Xewe to head home from close range

8' Auckland City almost have an equaliser with another free kick by Lee which Matt Williams heads onto the cross bar and the ball goes out for a goal kick

11' Auckland City have the first corner of the game from the left. Lee puts in a dangerous ball to the near post but the ball misses everyone

15' Xewe drives the ball in from the left and Greg Uhlmann can only head the ball out for AS Magenta's first corner

16' The AS Magenta corner is cleared easily by Vicelich

20' Joris Gorendiawe is put in the clear down the left but is called offside

24' Auckland have another corner this time from the right. Lee takes and the ball eventually falls to Jason Hayne who blasts the ball over the cross bar from the edge of the area

28' There is a break in play after Alex Feneridis went down with an injury. He is now receiving treatment off the field

29' Lee takes another corner for Auckland but AS Magenta clear the ball

31' SUBSTITUTION Alex Feneridis is limping away to the changing rooms with what looks like a serious injury. He has been replaced by Adam McGeorge

34' Jason Hayne beats his player down the left but goalkeeper Jean Yan Dounezeck comes out to cut down the angle and Hayne's shot rolls out out for a goalkick

36' AS Magenta's Paul Poatinda plays a nice ball across from the right and Xewe heads home past goalkeeper Paul Gothard but the goal is called back for offside

42' Lee takes a free kick from deep inside AS Magenta territory. His cross is just over Vicelich's head at the near post and the ball is cleared

HALF-TIME

46' KICK-OFF

46' SUBSTITUTION Keryn Jordan is replaced by Adam Dickinson for Auckland City

47' GOAL Auckland City FC 1 AS Magenta 1 Matt Williams scores an equaliser from close range after a nice head down from the substitute Adam Dickinson

50' AS Magenta have a free-kick from just outside the box. Xewe takes but hits the ball just over the bar

52' GOAL Auckland City FC 2 AS Magenta 1 Daniel Koprivcic scores straight from a throw in with a well placed side-footed shot

56' Lee takes a corner from the right but it goes straight back out for another corner

57' Lee strikes another one and the ball is cleared

60' SUBSTITUTION Ludovic Boit is replaced by Philippe Kokone for AS Magenta

70' YELLOW CARD Andre Sinedo brings down Koprivcic down the left-hand side and is cautioned

73' SUBTITUTION Auckland City makes their final substitution with Chad Coombes coming on for James Pritchett

74' Daniel Korpivcic gets into the box down the right but then loses the ball when he could have crossed it into Hayne

77' Hayne wins the ball from his marker on the right and has a shot from a tight angle but Dounezeck makes a juggling save

84' McGeorge has a left-foot shot from just outside the box centre field but blasts it over the top

85' SUBTITUTION Jedidja Saiko replaces the goal scorer Lamo Xewe

FULL-TIME Auckland City FC 2 AS Magenta 1

Lautoka, Tafea FC and Waitakere United have all picked up three points on match day two of the 2010 O-League with Auckland City FC and AS Magenta still to play their match on Sunday.

Waitakere kicked things off with a solid 2-0 home victory against a well-organised AS Manu Ura at Fred Taylor Park in Auckland on Saturday afternoon taking them to the top of Group A.

O-League newcomers Lautoka are now leading Group B with a second straight away win, this time against Hekari United at Port Moresby Rugby League Stadium. After a penalty goal by Hekari in the first half, the Fijians fought back to secure victory with second half goals to Valerio Nawatu and Apisai Smith.

It was another close encounter at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara where Marist suffered a second home defeat going down 0-2 to Vanuatu's Tafea.


2010 O-LEAGUE RESULTS [MATCH DAY 2]

Waitakere United: 2 (Benjamin TOTORI 55, Brent FISHER 86)
AS Manu Ura: 0
Half-time: 0-0
Saturday 7 November 2009
Fred Taylor Park
Auckland, New Zealand

Hekari United FC: 1 (Kema JACK 28)
Lautoka: 2 (Valerio NAWATU 69, Apisai SMITH 76)
Half-time: 0-1
Saturday 7 November 2009
PMRL Stadium
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Marist FC: 0
Tafea FC: 2 (Francois SAKAMA 48, Etienne MERMER 51)
Half-time: 0-0
Saturday 7 November 2009
Lawson Tama Stadium
Honiara, Solomon Islands

Still to be played:

Auckland City FC vs. AS Magenta
Sunday 8 November 2009
Kiwitea St
Auckland, New Zealand
Local kick-off: 15H00

2010 O-LEAGUE TABLE

Group A

Group B

Welcome to Fred Taylor Park for match day two of the 2010 O-League featuring Waitakere United and Tahiti's AS MAnu Ura.

Conditions are excellent here in Auckland with light cloud and a moderate cross-field wind. Both teams will be eager for a result to stay in contention in Group A.

Today's action also includes Marist FC vs. Tafea FC in Honiara, while Hekari United FC host Lautoka in Port Moresby. oceaniafootball.com will endeavour to bring you all the latest scores and results as they happen. 

Please refresh your browser regularly to keep up with all the action.

The starting line-ups for Waitakere United and AS Manu Ura are as follows:

Waitakere United: 1. Danny ROBINSON  [GK], 2. Jason ROWLEY, 3. Aaron SCOTT, 4. Tim MYERS, 8. Brent FISHER, 9. Benjamin TOTORI, 10. Allan PEARCE, 11. Neil SYKES, 13. Dimas DA SILVA, 14. Jeremy CHRISTIE, 17. Jake BUTLER
Substitutes: 5. Ash SOLLY, 6. Graham PEARCE, 7. Martin BULLOCK, 19. Dakota LUCAS, 21. Keegan LINDERBOOM, 22. Liam LITTLE  [GK], 26. Jason HICKS

AS Manu Ura: 1. Jonathan TOROHIA  [GK], 2. Henri TAPEA, 3. Rex FAURA, 7. Tetahio AURAA, 9. Jean-Francois KABEU, 10. Auguste WASHETINE, 11. Hiashi KAKE, 12. Hiroana POROIEA, 14. Stephane TUAIRAU, 20. Billy MATAITAI, 22. Fraddy TAUIHARA
Substitutes:5. Philippe MORETA, 6. Aldo TAUIHARA, 15. Henri CHANON, 16. Daniel TAPETA  [GK], 19. Heitini TUPEA

0' KICK-OFF

2' Neil Sykes takes a free-kick for the home side from deep in AS Manu Ura territory but goalkeeper Jonathan Torohia manages to punch the ball clear 

4' Down the other end, AS Manu Ura have a good chance with link-up play from Auguste Washetine and Billy Mataitai but the striker's attempted lob is straight into the hands of Danny Robinson

7' First corner of the game goes to Waitakere. Sykes takes but Torohia claims it easily

9' Another corner for Waitakere but same result

12' Benjamin Totori wins the ball well on the left hand side and sets off on a run into the box. With two waiting inside he elects to go alone but loses the ball

14' Neil Sykes takes a third straight corner from the right hand side but again Torohia gets both hands on it this time at the back post

16' Jean-Francois Kabeu shows his pace with a 50 metre run down the left for AS Manu Ura. His cross finds captain Tetahio Auraa whose first-time volley is saved

18' AS Manu Ura are lucky not to go down a goal after Dimas Da Silva's shot from just inside the box hits the side netting

19' Waitakere have an even better chance with Allan Pearce side-footing the ball across from the left for Brent Fisher whose shot from close range is saved well by Torohia going low to his left

22' A fourth consecutive corner for Waitakere from the right but again the goalkeeper takes it cleanly

27' Totori puts a ball through for Fisher who is caught offside

28' YELLOW CARD AS Manu Ura's Auguste Washetine is cautioned by referee Kevin Docherty

30' AS Manu Ura's Stephane Tuairau takes a shot from deep after the ball is cleared to him but the ball goes wide.

34' YELLOW CARD Fraddy Tauihara brings down Allan Pearce just outside the box centre field and is shown yellow

35' The resulting free-kick is taken by Jeremy Christie. His powerful shot makes it over the wall but is punched clear by Torohia

38' Washetine is put in the clear from a deep free-kick but his touch is just too heavy and Robinson comes out to smother the ball

43' Allan Pearce makes a nice run down the left and puts a dangerous ball across intended for Fisher but defender Hiroiana Poroiea just manages to put the ball out for a corner

44' Waitakere take a corner from the left but it goes out for another corner.

45' This time from the right hand side, Torohia once again claims a Sykes corner

HALF-TIME

46' KICK-OFF

46' Totori takes a shot with his left foot from just outside the box but gets no power on it. AS Manu Ura goalkeeper easily collects

48' Da Silva beats his marker down the left but is tackled by the second defender inside the box

52' Kabeu turns well to beat his player on the right and passes the ball forward to Hiashi Kake but the AS Manu Ura striker is offside

55' GOAL Waitakere United 1 AS Manu Ura 0 Benjamin Totori puts Waitakere ahead. Pearce put a nice ball in from the left for Fisher to lightly flick the ball on to the Solomon Island midfielder who finished well from close range

64' SUBSTITUTION Aldo Tauihara replaces Billy Mataitai for AS Manu Ura

65' YELLOW CARD The substitute Aldo Tauihara is cautioned

68' SUBSTITUTION Martin Bullock replaces Dimas Da Silva for Waitakere

70' SUBSTITUTION Phillippe Moreta replaces Stephane Tuairau for AS Manu Ura 

72' Sykes puts a nice ball through for Fisher who is clear on goal but the striker is unlucky to be called offside

73' SUBSTITUTION Dakota Lucas replaces Allan Pearce for Waitakere

80' Bullock puts the ball over the top from close range after a low cross by Lucas from the right

82' SUBSTITUTION Heitini Tupea replaces AS Manu Ura captain Tetahio Auraa

86' PENALTY GOAL Waitakere United 2 AS Manu Ura Brent Fisher converts from the spot after being fouled by Fraddy Tauihara

87' SUBSTITUTION Waitakere make their last substitution with Jason Hicks replacing Benjamin Totori

90'+2 YELLOW CARD AS Manu Ura's Henri Tapea is cautioned for a dangerous tackle

FULL-TIME Waitakere United 2 AS Manu Ura 0

O-League action continues this weekend as Auckland City FC and Lautoka look to stay top of Group A and Group B respectively while the rest of the eight-team field play catch-up football.

Match Day Two kicks off on Saturday with the Group A clash between Waitakere United and Tahiti’s AS Manu Ura at Fred Taylor Park in Auckland. Both teams will be eager to put their previous matches behind them as the two-time champions Waitakere could only manage a 1-1 draw against AS Magenta and the Tahitians went down 0-5 to title holders Auckland City.

Roy Krishna and Vetea Tepa will both miss the game after receiving red cards in their respective first round matches while Waitakere player-coach Neil Emblen is still serving a carry-over suspension from last season. Waitakere will also be without their Young All Whites who have progressed to the second round at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria.

Crossing over to Papua New Guinea for Group B, Hekari United FC will host Fiji’s Lautoka on Saturday at Port Moresby Rugby League Stadium. Hekari fought hard for a 3-3 draw against Tafea FC in Port Vila on match day one and could leap-frog Lautoka into first place with a win on Saturday. David Muta, Kema Jack and Benjamin Mela all impressed during their first outing and will again be key players for the home side.

Lautoka will be full of confidence after a classy display in their debut O-League match beating Marist FC 3-1. The Fijians will be eager to consolidate their lead with a follow-up away result.

In the other Group B match, Marist have a chance to redeem themselves on Saturday with a second straight home match at Lawson Tama Stadium, this time against Vanuatu club champions Tafea FC. Coach Patrick Miniti is confident his side will bounce back from their first up defeat with the support of an empassioned home crowd likely to reach 15,000. The Solomon Islands have a strong O-League history to preserve after representatives Kossa FC and Koloale FC finished runners-up in the previous two editions.

Tafea FC meanwhile will go into the match hoping for maximum points to potentially go top of Group B. The team remains largely unchanged from the first round with only Hubert Nake left out of the travelling squad.

Finally it’s back to Auckland on Sunday for the Group A clash between Auckland City FC and AS Magenta. Former Waitakere striker Daniel Korivcic will be keen to add to his goal tally for Auckland after an impressive hat-trick against AS Manu Ura on Match Day One. The only change from that squad will be Paul Urlovic replaced by Grant Young who has recovered well from a hamstring injury.

AS Magenta will be without star midfielder Pierre Wajoka and Andre Sinedo who are both tied up with personal commitments while former Ligue 1 defender Benjamin Longue is under an injury cloud. Coming into the squad is former New Caledonian international Steeven Longue, brother to Benjamin, plus Theodore Kaudre and Albert Itrema.


2010 O-LEAGUE – MATCH DAY 2 PREVIEW

This is the Official Preview for Match Day 1. Please note squads are subject to change.

Media wishing to attend any O-League match should contact the respective home club contact prior to match day. Media are encouraged to use these contacts for further club specific information or clarification.

Waitakere United [NZL] vs. AS Manu Ura [TAH]
Saturday 7 November 2009
Fred Taylor Park
Auckland, New Zealand
Local kick-off: 15H00

Referee: Kevin DOCHERTY [AUS]
Assistant Referee 1: Nick VAN SELM [NZL]
Assistant Referee 2: Glen LOCHRIE [NZL]
Fourth Official: Jamie CROSS [NZL]

Waitakere United: 1. Danny ROBINSON  [GK], 2. Jason ROWLEY, 3. Aaron SCOTT, 4. Tim MYERS, 5. Ash SOLLY, 6. Graham PEARCE, 7. Martin BULLOCK, 8. Brent FISHER, 9. Benjamin TOTORI, 10. Allan PEARCE, 11. Neil SYKES, 13. Dimas DA SILVA, 14. Jeremy CHRISTIE, 17. Jake BUTLER, 19. Dakota LUCAS, 21. Keegan LINDERBOOM, 22. Liam LITTLE  [GK], 26. Jason HICKS
Coach: Neil EMBLEN [ENG]

AS Manu Ura: 1. Jonathan TOROHIA  [GK], 2. Henri TAPEA, 3. Rex FAURA, 5. Philippe MORETA, 6. Aldo TAUIHARA, 7. Tetahio AURAA, 9. Jean-Francois KABEU, 10. Auguste WASHETINE, 11. Hiashi KAKE, 12. Hiroana POROIEA, 14. Stephane TUAIRAU, 15. Henri CHANON, 16. Daniel TAPETA  [GK], 19. Heitini TUPEA, 20. Billy MATAITAI, 22. Fraddy TAUIHARA
Coach: Patrick PITO [TAH]



Hekari United FC [PNG] vs. Lautoka [FIJ]
Saturday 7 November 2009
PMRL Stadium
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Local kick-off: 15H00

Referee: John SAOHU [SOL]
Assistant Referee 1: Hilary ANI [PNG]
Assistant Referee 2: David CHARLES [PNG]
Fourth Official: Job Ponis MINAN [PNG]

Hekari United FC: 3. Tagaya LEPANI, 4. Cyril MUTA, 5. Brian TUHIANA, 7. Benjamin MELA, 8. Michael FOSTER, 9. Tuimasi MANUCA, 11. Joachim WAROI, 12. David MUTA, 13. Andrew LEPANI, 15. Charles PARANDA, 17. Kema JACK, 18. Eric KOMENG, 20. Gure GABINA  [GK], 23. Samuel KINI, 24. Kluivert DAGI, 27. Desmond WALUKA  [GK], 30. Pita BALEITOGA
Coach: Jerry ALLEN [SOL]  

Lautoka: 1. James CHRONOPOULOS  [GK], 2. Samuela KAUTOGA, 3. Keni DOIDOI, 4. Samuela VULA, 6. Malakai WAQA, 7. Valerio NAWATU, 8. Ilatia TUILAU, 9. Nahuel ARRARTE, 10. Kamal HASSAN, 11. Sailesh SAMY, 13. Apisai SMITH, 15. Marika ROBANAKADAVU, 17. Arvindra NAIDU, 19. Leone VURUKANIA, 22. Aliverti BALELOA  [GK], 27. Salesh KUMAR
Coach: Imdad ALI [FIJ]



Marist FC [SOL] vs. Tafea FC [VAN]
Saturday 7 November 2009
Lawson Tama Stadium
Honiara, Solomon Islands
Local kick-off: 15H00

Referee: Andrew ACHARI [FIJ]
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew TARO [SOL]
Assistant Referee 2: Jackson NAMO [SOL]
Fourth Official: Nelson SOGO [SOL]

Marist FC: 1. Michael KOUMA [GK], 2. Chrisanto MISIGA, 4. Emmanuel POILA, 5. David HOUPERE, 6. Michael PATITI, 7. Joseph LANI, 8. John WAYNE, 9. Abraham INIGA, 10. Michael MISITANA, 11. Commins MENAPI, 12. Clifford HUTA, 13. Lenson BISILI, 15. Joe LUWI, 16. Martin RUHASIA, 18. Tolei Ini KOPURIA, 19. Johan Firisi DOIWALE, 20. Navusu KITU  [GK], 21. Charlie TANIRO
Coach: Patrick MINITI [SOL]

Tafea FC: 1. Alfred MALAS  [GK], 3. Jacques MAFIL NAWAN, 4. Roger JOE, 5. Silas NAMATAK, 6. Fredy VAVA, 7. Moise POIDE, 9. Jean Nako NAPRAPOL, 10. Richard IWAI, 11. Etienne MERMER, 13. Francois SAKAMA, 14. Asi DANIEL, 15. Jonah TURU, 16. Alphonse QORIG, 17. Geoffrey GETE, 18. Robert TOM, 19. Michell KALTAK, 20. Len MERKA [GK]
Coach: Graham DEMAS [VAN]



Auckland City FC [NZL] vs. AS Magenta [NCL]
Sunday 8 November 2009
Kiwitea St
Auckland, New Zealand
Local kick-off: 15H00

Referee: Rakesh VARMAN [FIJ]
Assistant Referee 1: Mark RULE [NZL]
Assistant Referee 2: Jacqueline STEPHENSON [NZL]
Fourth Official: Chris KERR [NZL]

Auckland City FC: 1. Jacob SPOONLEY  [GK], 3. Ian HOGG, 4. Sam CAMPBELL, 5. Matt WILLIAMS, 6. Ki-Hyung LEE, 7. James PRITCHETT, 8. Chad COOMBES, 10. Grant YOUNG, 11. Daniel KOPRIVCIC, 13. Alex FENERIDIS, 14. Keryn JORDAN, 15. Ivan VICELICH, 16. Jason HAYNE, 17. Adam McGEORGE, 18. Paul GOTHARD  [GK], 20. Greg UHLMANN, 21. Riki VAN STEEDEN, 22. Adam DICKINSON
Coach: Paul POSA [NZL]

AS Magenta: 1. Jean Yan DOUNEZECK  [GK], 2. Benjamin LONGUE, 4. Emmanuel DIANAI, 6. Jedidja SAIKO, 7. Noel KAUDRE, 9. Paul POATINDA, 11. Albert ITREMA, 14. Jules WEA, 15. Steeven LONGUE, 24. Lamo XEWE, 25. Joris GORENDIAWE, 29. Theodore KAUDRE, 32. Ludovic BOIT, 33. Philippe KOKONE
Coach: Alain MOIZAN [NCL]

2010 O-LEAGUE TABLE

Group A

2010 O-LEAGUE RESULTS

Group A
17/10/09       Auckland City FC vs. AS Manu Ura      5-0
24/10/09       Waitakere United vs. AS Magenta      1-1

Group B
17/10/09       Tafea FC vs. Hekari United FC            3-3
18/10/09       Marist FC vs. Lautoka                         1-3      
 

2010 O-LEAGUE – LEADING GOAL-SCORERS

3 – Daniel KOPRIVCIC
1 – Nahuel ARRART
1 – Chad COOMBES
1 – Brent FISHER
1 – Kamal HASSAN
1 – Abraham INIGA
1 – Kema JACK
1 – Samuela KAUTOGA
1 – Tuimasi MANUCA
1 – Benjamin MELA
1 – Silas NAMATAK
1 – François SAKAMA
1 – Robert TOM
1 – Ivan VICELICH

Marist Football Club coach Patrick Miniti says his team has exorcised its demons after a disappointing first round O-League defeat at home by Lautoka FC last month.

Marist will be desperate to take maximum points from its next O-League match against Vanuatu champions Tafea FC when the two meet on Saturday 7 November at Lawson Tama Stadium.

The Solomon Island champions fell 1-3 to Lautoka FC in front of 12,000 dismayed Honiara fans on 18 October.

But Miniti says his team will be looking forward with optimism and determination despite widespread public dismay following the loss to Lautoka FC.

“It will be a difficult task for us but we cannot afford to walk away empty handed from this game,’ Miniti said.

Miniti concedes that certain areas of Marist’s game suffered in their season opening home match but is confident his team is back on track for their all-important second home match.

“The team has worked towards a better result and we look forward to our next match,” Miniti said. 

“We know that Tafea FC will be very fast and our defense will have to be at its best if we are to gain anything from this match.”

Marist’s captain Abraham Iniga has issued a rallying call to the Solomon Islands public pleading for renewed passionate home support against Tafea FC.

“We carry not only the Marist flag but also a national responsibility and we urge the public to back us in our next match,” Iniga said.

The Solomon Islands have a strong O-League history to preserve after representatives Kossa FC and Koloale FC finished runners-up in the previous two editions.

Saturday's match will be crucial for Marist as they fight to stay in contention in Group B. Lautoka currently leads the group on three points with Papua New Guinea's Hekari United and Tafea FC in second place after their 3-3 draw in Port Vila last month while Marist are languishing at the bottom of the table.

Meanwhile in Group A, Auckland City FC sit top ahead of AS Magenta and Waitakere United on one point and AS Manu Ura who are yet to get a result.

Courtesy of SIFF Media

O-League newcomers AS Magenta have held Waitakere United to a 1-1 draw at Noumea’s Stade Numa Daly on Saturday afternoon to leave Auckland City FC two points clear at the top of Group A after the first round of matches.

The New Caledonians had fortune on their side when United defender Aaron Scott inadvertently headed the ball into his own goal in the 78th minute to cancel out Brent Fisher’s first-half strike. Moments earlier Fijian speedster Roy Krishna had been shown a red card leaving the visitors with 10 men to defend the slender lead. 

United, who won the O-League title in 2007 and 2008, will now have to play catch up after cross-town rivals and defending champions Auckland City beat Tahiti’s AS Manu Ura 5-0 at Kiwitea Street last Saturday.

Coach Neil Emblen says he was disappointed not to get a result but was pleased with how his side played in what was their first competitive match of the season. 

“We dominated for three quarters of the match but obviously the sending off and own goal changed things,” said Emblen, who has taken over the coaching role after the departure of Chris Milicich last season.

“They were bigger and more physical than I had expected and fair play to them because they came back into it at the end.”

United dominated the first half playing into a strong breeze and found the breakthrough in the 37th minute when Neil Sykes drove a corner clearance back into the box for Fisher to head over goalkeeper Jean Yan Dounezeck. It was his first goal for the club after playing three seasons for Bodens BK in Sweden.

In a contrasting second half, AS Magenta started to exploit United down the flanks and enjoyed plenty of possession through midfield standouts Noel Kaudre and Pierre Wajoka.

With much at stake for both teams, tempers flared in the 75th minute when Krishna was shown a red card for retaliation. The send off proved costly as AS Magenta went on a fast break minutes later and a deep cross found United defender Aaron Scott whose unchallenged header went into the back of his own net.

United and Magenta now sit second equal in Group A behind Auckland City while Fiji’s Lautoka are top of Group B ahead of Hekari United FC, Tafea FC and Marist FC.

AS Magenta: 1 (own goal 78)
Waitakere United: 1 (Brent FISHER 37)
Half time: 0-1
Saturday 24 October 2009
Stade Numa Daly
Noumea, New Caledonia

Referee: Norbert HAUATA [TAH]
Assistant Referee 1: Didier HMUZO [NCL]
Assistant Referee 2: Mahit CHILIA [VAN]
Fourth Official: Isidore ASSIENE-AMBASSA [NCL]

Crowd: 2,000

AS Magenta line-up: 1. Jean Yan DOUNEZECK  [GK], 2. Benjamin LONGUE, 3. Jeremie DOKUNENGO, 7. Noel KAUDRE, 9. Paul POATINDA, 10. Pierre WAJOKA, 14. Jules WEA, 17. Andre SINEDO, 24. Lamo XEWE, 25. Joris GORENDIAWE, 32. Ludovic BOIT
Substitutes: 4. Emmanuel DIANAI, 6. Jedidja SAIKO, 12. Poulidor TOTO, 18. Jean Chrys XENIE, 26. Fabrice WACAPO, 27. Cedrickson CARIOU, 33. Philippe KOKONE
Coach: Alain MOIZAN

Waitakere United line-up: 1. Danny ROBINSON  [GK], 2. Jason ROWLEY, 3. Aaron SCOTT, 4. Tim MYERS, 7. Martin BULLOCK, 8. Brent FISHER, 9. Benjamin TOTORI, 11. Neil SYKES, 12. Roy KRISHNA, 14. Jeremy CHRISTIE, 17. Jake BUTLER,
Substitutes: 5. Ash SOLLY, 10. Allan PEARCE, 13. Dimas MORALES DA SILVA, 15. Craig WILIE, 20. Ryan DE VRIES, 22. Liam LITTLE  [GK], 27. Dan JONES
Coach: Neil EMBLEN

2010 O-LEAGUE TABLE 

Group A 

Group B

2010 O-LEAGUE LEADING GOAL-SCORERS

3 – Daniel KOPRIVCIC
1 – Nahuel ARRART
1 – Chad COOMBES
1 – Brent FISHER
1 – Kamal HASSAN
1 – Abraham INIGA
1 – Kema JACK
1 – Samuela KAUTOGA
1 – Tuimasi MANUCA
1 – Benjamin MELA
1 – Silas NAMATAK
1 – François SAKAMA
1 – Robert TOM
1 – Ivan VICELICH

New Caledonia’s AS Magenta face a tough test to kick off their debut O-League campaign with a clash against two-time champions Waitakere United in Noumea on Saturday.

The Super Ligue winners will look to New Caledonia captain Pierre Wajoka for inspiration tomorrow while drawing on home support at the 10,000-seater Stade Numa Daly.

Wajoka is the midfield mainstay of the national team and claimed a little piece of history by scoring the first ever goal in the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ qualification process with a penalty against rivals Tahiti at the XIII South Pacific Games on August 25, 2007. “Les Cagous” went on to win gold at the tournament and finished runners-up behind New Zealand in the 2008 OFC Nations Cup.

Waitakere United manager Neil Emblen is well aware of the danger Wajoka can cause and says his side will need to be on guard in defense.

“Pierre is a classy player and put in impressive performances against New Zealand last year during the World Cup qualifiers,” said Emblen.

“Magenta also have a number of other former and current internationals so we’re expecting a competitive match.”

Emblen would himself be the stalwart of United’s defense but a carry-over suspension has ruled him out. The English-born manager, who takes over from Chris Milicich, believes it won’t be such a bad thing to miss tomorrow’s game.

“Obviously I’d love to be playing but this way I have the opportunity to be coach rather than player-coach for the opening match and I can make a good assessment of the team from the sideline.”

Emblen has most of his 30-strong squad available for selection but is without his three New Zealand U-17 players Jack Hobson, Zane Sole and Tim Pilkington who are preparing for kick-off in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria this weekend. Assistant coach Darren Bazeley is also in Nigeria leaving Carl Jorgensen as Emblen’s assistant in Noumea.

Star strikers Benjamin Totori and Roy Krishna, both with three O-League goals to date, are likely to provide problems for the AS Magenta defense while former Wellington Phoenix and New Zealand player Jeremy Christie will marshal the midfield.

Meanwhile AS Magenta will be led in defense by experienced campaigner Benjamin Longue who is one of a long line of New Caledonian-born players to have made an appearance in French Ligue 1. The 28-year-old tough-tackling defender played for Bastia in France before returning home to star for AS Magenta. Longue opted for a premature retirement from international football following the end of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ qualification trail.

AS Magenta have never appeared in the O-League but did reach the final of the previous incarnation of the Oceania competition in 2005. They are five-time champions of their domestic league and have won the ‘Coupe de Calédonie’ seven times. The last New Caledonian club side to appear in the O-League was AS Mont Dore in the inaugural 2007 season with a 6th place finish. Waitakere United have won the O-League title on two occasions in 2007 and 2008.


AS Magenta [NCL] vs. Waitakere United [NZL]
Saturday 24 October 2009
Stade Numa Daly
Noumea, New Caledonia
Local kick-off: 16H00

Referee: Norbert HAUATA [TAH]
Assistant Referee 1: Didier HMUZO [NCL]
Assistant Referee 2: Mahit CHILIA [VAN]
Fourth Official: Isidore ASSIENE-AMBASSA [NCL]

AS Magenta: 1. Jean Yan DOUNEZECK  [GK], 2. Benjamin LONGUE, 3. Jeremie DOKUNENGO, 4. Emmanuel DIANAI, 6. Jedidja SAIKO, 7. Noel KAUDRE, 9. Paul POATINDA, 10. Pierre WAJOKA, 12. Poulidor TOTO, 14. Jules WEA, 17. Andre SINEDO, 18. Jean Chrys XENIE, 24. Lamo XEWE, 25. Joris GORENDIAWE, 26. Fabrice WACAPO, 27. Cedrickson CARIOU, 32. Ludovic BOIT, 33. Philippe KOKONE

Waitakere United: 1. Danny ROBINSON  [GK], 2. Jason ROWLEY, 3. Aaron SCOTT, 4. Tim MYERS, 5. Ash SOLLY, 7. Martin BULLOCK, 8. Brent FISHER, 9. Benjamin TOTORI, 10. Allan PEARCE, 11. Neil SYKES, 12. Roy KRISHNA, 13. Dimas MORALES DA SILVA, 14. Jeremy CHRISTIE, 15. Craig WILIE, 17. Jake BUTLER, 20. Ryan DE VRIES, 22. Liam LITTLE  [GK], 27. Dan JONES

2010 O-LEAGUE RESULTS/STANDINGS

Group A
17/10/09 Auckland City FC vs. AS Manu Ura    5-0

Group B
17/10/09 Tafea FC vs. Hekari United FC    3-3
18/10/09 Marist FC vs. Lautoka    1-3

Group A

Group B

2010 O-LEAGUE – LEADING GOAL-SCORERS

3 – Daniel KOPRIVCIC
1 – Nahuel ARRART
1 – Chad COOMBES
1 – Kamal HASSAN
1 – Abraham INIGA
1 – Kema JACK
1 – Samuela KAUTOGA
1 – Benjamin MELA
1 – Tuimasi MANUCA
1 – Silas NAMATAK
1 – François SAKAMA
1 – Robert TOM
1 – Ivan VICELICH

Fifteen goals have already been scored in the 2010 O- League as Auckland City FC and Lautoka stormed to victory on Match Day 1 of the competition to go top of Group A and Group B respectively.

The season kicked off at Auckland’s Kiwitea Street on Saturday with defending champions Auckland City cruising to a 5-0 win over Tahiti’s AS Manu Ura in Group A. Daniel Koprivcic led the way with a second-half hat-trick on debut for the club.

Auckland City coach Paul Posa says he was pleased to pick up maximum points in the season opener and is delighted to be involved in another O-League campaign.

“O-League is great because it raises the standards,” said Posa, who took over from Colin Tuaa midway through last season in a caretaker role and is now leading the club in a British-type manager’s role.

“To play different teams with different styles – we learn from that and they learn from us which I think is a great thing.”

Auckland City started well in the wet conditions going ahead in the 18th minute when All Whites defender Ivan Vicelich climbed high at the near post to head home Ki-Hyung Lee’s corner.

Chad Coombes took Auckland City’s lead out to 2-0 at half-time before Koprivcic stole the show in the second half. The former Waitakere United striker grabbed the first of his three in the 69th minute when he out-muscled his marker on the edge of the area and slotted the ball low past goalkeeper Daniel Tapeta. He scored his second in the 80th minute shortly before AS Manu Ura’s Vetea Tepa was sent off for an off-the-ball incident. Koprivcic then completed his hat-trick with a coolly-taken penalty in injury time.

Kicking off in Port Vila shortly after the Kiwitea clash was the opening Group B match between Tafea FC and Hekari United FC. The 4,000 local faithful at Municipal Stadium were given plenty to cheer in the opening minute of the game when Silas Namatak curled the ball top corner from just outside the area.

Tafea doubled their lead in the 34th minute through Robert Tom before three goals were scored in the space of five minutes just before half-time. Striker Kema Jack grabbed a double in quick succession before Vanuatu international Francois Sakama hit back in the 45th minute to give the home side a 3-2 advantage. Benjamin Mela made it 3-3 five minutes after the break and the score remained unchanged. 

On Sunday around 15,000 fans turned out at Honiara’s Lawson Tama Stadium to support Marist FC as they faced a determined Lautoka side in the second Group B match.

Making their O-League debut, Lautoka got off to the perfect start going ahead in the 14th minute when Kamal Hassan headed home after a weak punch out from goalkeeper Fred Hale off a corner. Another strong header, this time from Samuela Kautoga put the visitors two goals clear in the 20th minute, a lead they kept going into the break.

Marist substitute Michael Patiti came on for Joe Luwi midway through the second half and made an immediate impact with a blistering run down the right to set up Abraham Iniga for an easy tap in. The stage was set for a dramatic finish in what was turning out to be a fiercely competitive encounter with no fewer than seven yellow cards issued. But it wasn’t to be for the home side as Lautoka defended well in the dying stages and grabbed a third goal in injury time through Nahuel Arrart.

It was the first home defeat for a Solomon Island club in the O-League since 2007 when ironically it was Marist who again found themselves on the wrong side of a Fijian club going down 0-2 to Ba.


2010 O-LEAGUE - MATCH DAY 1

Full match reports:

Auckland City FC: 5 (Ivan VICELICH 18, Chad COOMBES 34, Daniel KOPRIVCIC 69, 79, 90+1)
AS Manu Ura: 0
Half-time: 2-0
Saturday 17 October 2009
Kiwitea Street
Auckland, New Zealand

Referee: Gerard PARSONS [AUS]
Assistant Referee 1: Mark RULE [NZL]
Assistant Referee 2: Glen LOCHRIE [NZL]
Fourth Official: Nick WALDRON [NZL]

Crowd: 875
 
Auckland City FC line-up: 1. Jacob SPOONLEY  [GK], 3. Ian HOGG, 5. Matt WILLIAMS, 6. Ki-Hyung LEE (17. Adam McGEORGE 74), 7. James PRITCHETT, 8. Chad COOMBES (22. Adam DICKINSON 72) 11. Daniel KOPRIVCIC, 13. Alex FENERIDIS, 15. Ivan VICELICH, 19. Keryn JORDAN (16. Jason HAYNE 62), 20. Greg UHLMANN
Substitutes not used: 4. Sam CAMPBELL, 9. Paul URLOVIC, 12. Paul GOTHARD  [GK], 21. Riki VAN STEEDEN
Coach: Paul POSA [NZL]

Yellow cards: Nil

Red cards: Nil

AS Manu Ura line-up: 16. Daniel TAPETA  [GK], 2. Henri TAPEA, 3. Rex FAURA, 5. Philippe MORETA, 7. Tetahio AURAA, 8. Vetea TEPA, 9. Jean-Francois KABEU, 10. Auguste WASHETINE, 12. Hiroana POROIEA, 20. Billy MATAITAI, 22. Fraddy TAUIHARA
Substitutes not used: 1. Jonathan TOROHIA  [GK], 14. Stephane TUAIRAU, 15. Henri CHANON, 19. Heitini TUPEA, 22. Fraddy TAUIHARA
Coach:  Patrick PITO [TAH]

Yellow cards: Rex FAURA 55, Philippe MORETA 79

Red cards: Vetea TEPA 74

Tafea FC: 3 (Silas NAMATAK 1, Robert TOM 34, Francois SAKAMA 45)
Hekari United FC: 3 (Kema JACK 40, 42, Benjamin MELA 50)
Half-time: 3-2
Saturday 17 October 2009
Municipal Stadium
Port Vila, Vanuatu

Referee: Jamie CROSS [NZL]
Assistant Referee 1: Michael JOSEPH [VAN]
Assistant Referee 2: Alick LUKUI [VAN]
Fourth Official: Robinson BANGA [VAN]

Crowd: 4,000+

Tafea FC line-up: 1. Alfred MALAS [GK], 4. Roger JOE, 5. Silas NAMATAK, 6. Fredy VAVA, 7. Moise POIDE (16. Alphonse QORIG 84), 9. Jean Nako NAPRAPOL, 11. Etienne MERMER (15. Jonah TURU 45), 13. Francois SAKAMA, 17. Geoffrey GETE, 18. Robert TOM, 19. Michell KALTAK (10. Richard IWAI 67)
Substitutes not used: 3. Jacques MAFIL NAWAN, 14. Asi DANIEL, 20. Len MERKA  [GK], 21. Francois TAKAU
Coach: Graham DEMAS [VAN]

Yellow cards: Silas NAMATAK 20

Red cards: Nil

Hekari United FC line-up: 20. Gure GABINA [GK], 2. Lorima DAU, 4. Cyril MUTA, 7. Benjamin MELA, 9. Tuimasi MANUCA, 12. David MUTA (10. Abraham ENOCH 63), 15. Charles PARANDA, 16. Pita BALEITOGA, 17. Kema JACK, 18. Eric KOMENG (8. Michael FOSTER 89), 19. Koriak UPAIGA (5. Brian TUHIANA 75)
Substitutes not used: 1. Godfrey BANIAU [GK], 13. Andrew LEPANI, 22. Amuna KAMBA, 24. Kluivert DAGI
Coach: Jerry ALLEN [SOL]

Yellow cards: Lorima DAU 13, Pita BALEITOGA 26, Cyril MUTA 87

Red cards: Nil

Marist FC: 1 (Abraham INIGA 82)
Lautoka: 3 (Kamal HASSAN 14, Samuela KAUTOGA 20, Nahuel ARRART 90+2)
Half-time: 2-0
Sunday 18 October 2009
Lawson Tama Stadium
Honiara, Solomon Islands

Referee: Chris KERR [NZL]
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew TARO [SOL]
Assistant Referee 2: Gerald OIAKA [SOL]
Fourth Official: John SAOHU [SOL]

Crowd: 16,000

Marist FC line-up: 20. Fred HALE  [GK] (1. Michael KOUMA  [GK] 46), 2. Chrisanto MISIGA, 3. Derol MELO, 5. David HOUPERE, 7. Joseph LANI, 9. Abraham INIGA, 10. Michael MISITANA (14. Tutizama TANITO 87), 11. Commins MENAPI, 12. Clifford HUTA, 15. Joe LUWI (6. Michael PATITI 73), 17. Gibson HOSEA
Substitutes not used: 4. Emmanuel POILA, 8. John WAYNE, 13. Lenson BISILI, 16. Martin RUHASIA
Coach: Patrick MINITI [SOL]

Yellow cards: Abraham INIGA 38, David HOUPERE 46, Joe LUWI 71, Derol MELO 90+1

Red cards: Nil

Lautoka line-up: 1. James CHRONOPOULIS [GK], 2. Samuela KAUTOGA, 3. Keni DOIDOI, 4. Samuela VULA, 6. Malakai WAQA (5. Semesa NAKOSIA 75), 8. Ilatia TUILAU, 9. Nahuel ARRART, 10. Kamal HASSAN, 15. Marika ROBANAKADAVU, 16. Jone VONO (14. Samuela DRUDRU 88), 17. Arvindra NAIDU (11. Sailesh SAMY, 69)
Substitutes not used: 13. Apisal SMITH
Coach: Imdad ALI [FIJ]

Yellow cards: Samuela VULA 47, Marika ROBANAKADAVU 51, Ilatia TUILAU 67

Red cards: Nil

oceaniafootball.com brings you photos from Match Day 1 of the 2010 O-League which has seen Auckland City FC and Lautoka pick up maximum points while Tafea FC and Hekari United FC settled for a 3-3 draw.

Defending champions Auckland City FC sit top of Group A with three points after their comfortable 5-0 win over Tahiti's AS Manu Ura at Kiwitea Street on Saturday with the other Group A match between AS Magenta and Waitakere United still to be played (24 October).

O-League debutants Lautoka lead Group B after a 3-1 win over Marist FC at Honiara's Lawson Tama Stadium on Sunday while Tafea FC and Hekari United FC are placed second equal in Group B with one point.

Full match details of the three matches will be uploaded in due course.

PHOTOS:


Marist FC


Lautoka



Tafea FC and Hekari United FC



Hekari United FC



Tafea FC








AS Manu Ura


Auckland City FC


Daniel Koprivcic celebrates his hat-trick on debut for Auckland City FC

In match number three of the 2010 O-League, Solomon Island club champions Marist FC host Fiji's Lautoka at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara. 

Lautoka are making their debut in the O-League while Marist's only other appearance in the competition was during the inaugural 2007 season.

oceaniafootball.com brings you the latest updates from the crucial Group B clash.

HALF TIME UPDATE:

Marist FC 0 Lautoka 2
Kamal Hassan and Samuela Kautoga put Lautoka ahead by two goals inside the first 20 minutes.

FULL TIME:

Marist FC 1 Lautoka 3
Abraham Iniga got Marist back in the game with a goal midway through the second half but Lautoka made it 3-1 in injury time with a strike from Nahuel Arrarte.

oceaniafootball.com brings you the latest updates from Match Day 1 of the 2010 O-League with action from the Tafea FC and Hekari United FC match.

The game at Port Vila Stadium in Vanuatu is an important one for both sides as they look to get their 2010 season off to a winning start.

Hekari United FC were within a whisker of qualifying for the 2009 O-League final and will be looking to advance this time around. Tafea FC have returned to the competition after a year's absence and will have the home crowd support behind them on Match Day 1.

SCORE UPDATES

0' KICK OFF

1' Tafea FC 1 Hekari United FC 0

34' Tafea FC 2 Hekari United FC 0

41' Tafea FC 2 Hekari United FC 1

43' Tafea FC 2 Hekari United FC 2

45' Tafea FC 3 Hekari United FC 2

HALF TIME

50' Tafea FC 3 Hekari United FC 3

FULL TIME: Tafea FC 3 Hekari United FC 3

Welcome to Kiwitea Street in Auckland for Match Day 1 of the 2010 O-League featuring Auckland City FC vs. Tahiti's AS Manu Ura.

It's an overcast day here in Auckland as the teams line up. oceaniafootball.com brings you live text updates of the match - please refresh your browser regularly to keep up with all the action.

0' Kick off

4' Ki-Hyung Lee takes a free kick for Auckland City and Ivan Vicelich gets on the end of it at the back post but his header is a weak one

6' Lee takes a shot from the edge of the box but it's save by AS Manu Ura goalkeeper Daniel Tapeta

7' Another powerful strike by Lee but it sails over the bar

8' Corner for Auckland City taken by Lee. Cleared by AS Manu Ura

12' Another corner to Auckland. The ball bounces around in the penalty box but is eventually cleared

13' AS Manu Ura have a strong down the left through Jean-Francois Kabeu but his through-ball is collected by goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley

14' Auckland's Matt Williams has a clear header chance for Auckland in front of goal but can't get the direction right. Goal kick for AS Manu Ura

18' Corner for Auckland City

18' GOAL! Auckland City FC 1 AS Manu Ura 0 Ivan Vicilech climbs high at the near post and puts Auckland City ahead. Well taken corner from Lee

22' AS Manu Ura get into Auckland City's defensive third but Spoonley collects with ease

23' Auckland City take a short corner. Tapeta gets the cross from Lee

25' Another goal from corner but easily cleared by AS Manu Ura

25' Lee crosses a ball in and Keryn Jordan gets across his marker but heads wide

27' AS Manu Ura have their first attacking free kick. Hiroana Poroiea puts it in and Phillipe Moreta gets on the end of it but heads over the bar

28' Chad Coombes caught with the ball as the last line of defense but fortunately for him the referee blows the whistle for a free kick against AS Manu Ura

29' Another free kick for AS Manu Ura this time from deep. Kabeu is left unmarked on the back post and heads goal-ward. Spoonley palms the ball out for a corner

31' Another free-kick in the attacking third for AS Manu Ura. This time Moreta floats it up and Spoonley climbs high to claim it

34' GOAL! Auckland City FC 2 AS Manu Ura 0 Feneridis takes a free-kick quickly and puts Keryn Jordan in the clear. Jordan then weights a ball nicley inside for Chad Coombes who side-foots the ball into the back of the net

37' Chad Coombes has a shot from outside the area but hooks the ball wide

40' Corner for Auckland City. Lee drives it low to Jordan who scuffs his shot. AS Manu Ura break quickly.

43' Jordan's header at the back post draws a great save from Tapeta. Strong ball in from Daniel Koprivcic

HALF TIME

46' Second half kicks off

47' A well-taken Lee free-kick finds Jordan in the box but he heads just wide

50' Coombes makes a run down the right but his cross is straight to the goalkeeper

52' Free-kick by Lee again finds Lee in the box who can't get enough on it

55' Yellow card AS Manu Ura's Rex Faura is cautioned for a dangerous tackle

56' Lee tries a short free-kick but it rolls out for a goal kick

60' Attacking free-kick for AS Manu Ura. Moreta puts the ball in but referee calls a foul against AS Manu Ura

61' Great ball in from Coombes from the right but AS Manu Ura manage to clear the ball

62' Substitution 16. Jason Hayne replaces 19. Keryn Jordan for Auckland City

68' Jason Hayne cuts inside from the left and blasts a right-foot shot over the top

69' GOAL! Auckland City FC 3 AS Manu Ura 0 Daniel Koprivcic out-muscles his marker on the edge of the box and places the ball to the right of Tapeta.

71' Substitution Auckland City FC's 22. Adam Dickinson replaces 8. Chad Coombes

73' Alex Feneridis skies the ball over the top as the sun starts to shine at Kiwitea street

74' Ian Hogg puts a ball in from the left for Koprivcic to run onto but the ball goes wide as he slides in

74' The ball goes over Vicelich and Spoonley tries to clear the ball but it goes under his foot. AS Manu called off-side

79' Auckland City's Hayne puts a low cross in from the left bu Tapeta comes out to collect

79' Yellow Card AS Manu Ura's Philippe Moreta is cautioned for dissent

80' GOAL! Auckland City FC 4 AS Manu Ura 0 Nice build up play from Vicelich and Lee to put Hayne in  the clear. Hayne cuts inside from the left and slides the ball to Koprivcic who blasts the ball into the top of the net from an acute angle. 

84' Substitution 17. Adam McGeorge replaces 6. Ki-Hyung Lee 

84' Red Card AS Manu Ura's Vetea Tepa sent off on call by assistant referee Mark Rule

89' AS Manu Ura's Kabeu takes a shot from just inside halfway trying to lob Spoonley, but he overhits it

90' +1 GOAL! Auckland City FC 5 AS Manu Ura 0 Kopirvcic grabs a hat-trick with a penalty after AS Manu Ura conceeded a foul inside the box

90' +3 Alex Feneridis shoots the ball over the top from just outside the area

FULL-TIME Auckland City FC 5 AS Manu Ura 0


START LISTS

Auckland City FC: 1. Jacob SPOONLEY  [GK], 3. Ian HOGG, 5. Matt WILLIAMS, 6. Ki-Hyung LEE, 7. James PRITCHETT, 8. Chad COOMBES, 11. Daniel KOPRIVCIC, 13. Alex FENERIDIS, 19. Keryn JORDAN, 15. Ivan VICELICH, 20. Greg UHLMANN

Substitutes: 4. Sam CAMPBELL, 9. Paul URLOVIC, 12. Paul GOTHARD  [GK], 16. Jason HAYNE, 17. Adam McGEORGE, 21. Riki VAN STEEDEN, 22. Adam DICKINSON
Coach: Paul POSA [NZL]

AS Manu Ura: 16. Daniel TAPETA  [GK], 2. Henri TAPEA, 3. Rex FAURA, 5. Philippe MORETA, 7. Tetahio AURAA, 8. Vetea TEPA, 9. Jean-Francois KABEU, 10. Auguste WASHETINE, 12. Hiroana POROIEA, 20. Billy MATAITAI, 22. Fraddy TAUIHARA

Substitutes: 1. Jonathan TOROHIA  [GK], 14. Stephane TUAIRAU, 15. Henri CHANON, 19. Heitini TUPEA, 22. Fraddy TAUIHARA
Coach: Patrick PITO [TAH]

PHOTOS

The quest to become Oceania’s top football club begins on Saturday when Match Day 1 of 2010 O-League kicks off.

Tomorrow’s action will see Auckland City FC host AS Manu Ura at Kiwitea Street while Hekari United FC play away to Tafea FC in Port Vila. On Sunday, Marist FC will welcome Lautoka to Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara before Waitakere United travel to Noumea for their clash against AS Magenta next Saturday 24 October.

Auckland City FC will be hungry for a first-up win against AS Manu Ura as they look to defend their 2009 title. Paul Posa’s side has been through an intensive pre-season programme in preparation for the Oceania competition as well as the New Zealand Football Championship which also kicks off this month and the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009 where they will play Al Ahli FCD on 9 December.

The Tahitians are expected to put up a strong challenge against Auckland after showing impressive form during their domestic league as well as the Coupe de Polynésie – French Polynesia’s premier knock-out competition – which they won earlier this year. The last time the two teams met was in March last year during the 2008 O-League when it finished 1-0 to Auckland City FC.

Returning after a year's absence are Vanuatu representatives Tafea FC, who will find a tough challenge in Hekari United FC. Tafea won through to the 2010 edition after defeating Vaum United 4-1 in their domestic decider with goals to national team stars Francois Sakama, Jean Nako Naprapol and Geoffrey Gete. The team will need to call on their national ranks as they face a determined Hekari side who last year came within a whisker of reaching the 2009 O-League final.

Marist FC are likely to have the support of around 10,000 at Lawson Tama Stadium as they get their campaign underway against Fiji champions Lautoka on Sunday. The Solomon Island club’s only other appearance in the O-League was during the inaugural 2007 season when they finished a disappointing fifth. Meanwhile, Fiji has only ever been represented by Ba in the competition but a shift in the balance of power saw Lautoka finish top of the table in the first round of the 2009 National Soccer League to qualify for their maiden O-League.

AS Magenta have also never appeared in the O-League but did reach the final of the previous incarnation of the Oceania competition in 2005. The New Caledonians will have crucial home advantage in their opening encounter against Waitakere United and will look to national striker Pierre Wajoka to lead from the front. With a new head coach in Neil Emblen, Waitakere will be eager to repeat their form of 2007 and 2008 when they earned back-to-back O-League titles and performed credibly on the world stage at the FIFA Club World Cup.

To view a copy of the 2010 O-League Programme click here


2010 O-LEAGUE – MATCH DAY 1 PREVIEW

This is the Official Preview for Match Day 1. Please note squads are subject to change.

Media wishing to attend any O-League match should contact the respective home club contact prior to match day. Media are encouraged to use these contacts for further club specific information or clarification. 
 
Auckland City FC [NZL] vs. AS Manu Ura [TAH]
Saturday 17 October 2009
Kiwitea Street
Auckland, New Zealand
Local kick-off: 15H00

Referee : Gerard PARSONS [AUS]
Assistant Referee 1 : Mark RULE [NZL]
Assistant Referee 2 : Glen LOCHRIE [NZL]
Fourth Official : Nick WALDRON [NZL]

Auckland City FC: 1. Jacob SPOONLEY  [GK], 3. Ian HOGG, 4. Sam CAMPBELL, 5. Matt WILLIAMS, 6. Ki-Hyung LEE, 7. James PRITCHETT, 8. Chad COOMBES, 9. Paul URLOVIC, 11. Daniel KOPRIVCIC, 12. Paul GOTHARD  [GK], 13. Alex FENERIDIS, 19. Keryn JORDAN, 15. Ivan VICELICH, 16. Jason HAYNE, 17. Adam McGEORGE, 20. Greg UHLMANN, 21. Riki VAN STEEDEN, 22. Adam DICKINSON
Coach: Paul POSA [NZL]

AS Manu Ura: 1. Jonathan TOROHIA  [GK], 2. Henri TAPEA, 3. Rex FAURA, 5. Philippe MORETA, 7. Tetahio AURAA, 8. Vetea TEPA, 9. Jean-Francois KABEU, 10. Auguste WASHETINE, 12. Hiroana POROIEA, 14. Stephane TUAIRAU, 15. Henri CHANON, 16. Daniel TAPETA  [GK], 19. Heitini TUPEA, 20. Billy MATAITAI, 22. Fraddy TAUIHARA
Coach:   Patrick PITO [TAH]


Tafea FC [VAN] vs. Hekari United FC [PNG]
Saturday 17 October 2009
Municipal Stadium
Port Vila, Vanuatu
Local kick-off: 15H00

Referee: Jamie CROSS [NZL]
Assistant Referee 1: Michael JOSEPH [VAN]
Assistant Referee 2: Alick LUKUI [VAN]
Fourth Official: Robinson BANGA [VAN]

Tafea FC: 1. Alfred MALAS  [GK], 3. Jacques MAFIL NAWAN, 4. Roger JOE, 5. Silas NAMATAK, 6. Fredy VAVA, 7. Moise POIDE, 9. Jean Nako NAPRAPOL, 10. Richard IWAI, 11. Etienne MERMER, 12. Hubert NAKE, 13. Francois SAKAMA, 14. Asi Daniel, 15. Jonah TURU, 16. Alphonse QORIG, 17. Geoffrey GETE, 18. Robert TOM, 19. Michell KALTAK, 20. Len MERKA  [GK]
Coach: Graham DEMAS [VAN]

Hekari United FC: 1. Godfrey BANIAU  [GK], 2. Lorima DAU, 4. Cyril MUTA, 5. Brian TUHIANA, 7. Benjamin MELA, 8. Michael FOSTER, 9. Tuimasi MANUCA, 10. Abraham ENOCH, 12. David MUTA, 13. Andrew LEPANI, 15. Charles PARANDA, 17. Kema JACK, 18. Eric KOMENG, 19. Koriak UPAIGA, 20. Gure GABINA [GK], 22. Amuna KAMBA, 24. Kluivert DAGI, 30. Pita BALEITOGA
Coach: Jerry ALLEN [SOL]


Marist FC [SOL] vs. Lautoka [FIJ]
Sunday 18 October 2009
Lawson Tama Stadium
Honiara, Solomon Islands
Local kick-off: 15H00

Referee: Chris KERR [NZL]
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew TARO [SOL]
Assistant Referee 2: Gerald OIAKA [SOL]
Fourth Official: John SAOHU [SOL]

Marist FC: 1. Michael KOUMA  [GK], 2. Chrisanto MISIGA, 3. Derol MELO, 4. Emmanuel POILA, 5. David HOUPERE, 6. Michael PATITI, 7. Joseph LANI, 8. John WAYNE, 9. Abraham INIGA, 10. Michael MISITANA, 11. Commins MENAPI, 12. Clifford HUTA, 13. Lenson BISILI, 14. Tutizama TANITO, 15. Joe LUWI, 16. Martin RUHASIA, 17. Gibson HOSEA, 20. Fred HALE  [GK]
Coach: Patrick MINITI [SOL]

Lautoka: 2. Samuela KAUTOGA, 3. Keni DOIDOI, 4. Samuela VULA, 5. Semesa NAKOSIA, 6. Malakai WAQA, 8. Ilatia TUILAU, 10. Kamal HASSAN, 11. Sailesh SAMY, 13. Apisai SMITH, 14. Samuela DRUDRU, 16. Jone VONO, 17. Arvindra NAIDU, 18. Marika ROBANAKADAVU 22. James CHRONOPOULOS [GK]
Coach: Imdad ALI [FIJ]


AS Magenta [NCL] vs. Waitakere United [NZL]
Saturday 24 October 2009
Stade Numa Daly
Noumea, New Caldonia
Local kick-off: 16H00

Starting lists to be confirmed.

With the 2010 O-League kicking off this weekend, Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) is pleased to inform football fans of the media coverage for Match Day 1.

OFC has signed a ground-breaking agreement with Triangle and Stratos Television in New Zealand to ensure all Auckland City FC and Waitakere United’s home matches will be available on free-to-air television (Triangle) as well as on the digital platform (Stratos) within 24 hours after the completion of each match. 

In terms of television coverage outside of New Zealand, discussions are well advanced with OFC’s Broadcast Partner Network to facilitate live and delayed broadcasts of matches in each of the participating nations, as well as replays of away matches in those countries where possible.  

Defending champions Auckland City FC will get their 2010 O-League campaign underway at home this Saturday when they meet Tahiti’s AS Manu Ura. A full replay of the match at Kiwitea Street will be screened on Triangle at 10pm Saturday with a second replay airing at 12pm on Stratos the following day.

Waitakere United meanwhile will play away against AS Magenta in Noumea for their first round match on 24 October before hosting the New Caledonians on 7 November at Fred Taylor Park. The return-leg will be replayed on Triangle and Stratos Television with broadcast details to follow on oceaniafootball.com and tritv.co.nz

Coverage will be provided by a high quality outside broadcast crew including expert commentary from former All Whites striker Fred De Jong. 

Triangle is available on Auckland UHF channels 41, 42 and 52 while Stratos can be viewed nationwide on Freeview Channel 21 and Sky Digital Channel 89. Christchurch viewers can also tune in via Telstra Clear Cable Channel 89. For more information and tuning instructions visit tritv.co.nz/index.php/tune-in

For website coverage, oceaniafootball.com will provide LIVE text updates for the Auckland City FC vs. AS Manu Ura on Saturday from 3:00pm local time. Photos and results from all the matches will be available on oceaniafootball.com following the completiton of Match Day 1.

To view a copy of the 2010 O-League Programme click here

The newly-expanded 2010 O-League featuring the champion clubs of Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tahiti and Vanuatu is set to get underway this weekend.

Now in its fourth season, the O-League has grown from six to eight teams reflecting the rising popularity of the competition and enabling more OFC member associations to take part.

OFC President Reynald Temarii believes the expansion, which was approved by the OFC Executive Committee in June, will help to lift the overall standards in Oceania.

“Building a strong club competition is a crucial component in our region’s development and will only help to improve the standards of quality and technical skill both on and off the field,” said President Temarii.  

The 2010 O-League has been split into two groups of four teams and will follow a league system where each club plays one home and one away match against each of the other clubs in the same group. The highest ranked Group A side and the highest ranked Goup B side will then advance to a two-legged final stage to decide Oceania’s representative at the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2010.

In action for Group A this weekend will be defending champions Auckland City FC taking on Tahiti’s AS Manu Ura at Kiwitea Street in Auckland on Saturday. Meanwhile cross-town rivals Waitakere United, who won the O-League in 2007 and 2008, will have to wait until 24 October to get their 2010 campaign underway when they visit Noumea to play AS Magenta in the other Group A match.

In Group B, Hekari United FC (PNG) will play away against Tafea FC at Municipal Stadium in Port Vila on Saturday while Marist FC host Fiji club Lautoka at Honiara’s Lawson Tama Stadium the following day. 

General Secretary Tai Nicholas says the 2010 season is expected to be as intriguing as ever. 

“With a total of 26 matches culminating in a home-and-away final in April/May 2010, this season’s O-League promises to throw up many twists and turns.”

The OFC Club Championships started in 1999 and became known as the O-League in 2007 when the competition adopted a home-and-away format. Auckland City FC won the inaugural O-League and followed that up with victory last year over Solomon Island club Koloale FC in the final.

Auckland will represent Oceania at the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009 in December alongside the five other continental club champions and hosts UAE.

To view a copy of the 2010 O-League Programme click here

Marist FC fans will be taking confidence from the return of one of the brightest stars, international striker Commins Menapi, when their team opens its 2010 O-League campaign against Fiji’s Lautoka this Sunday in Honiara.

Menapi has also returned to his former club after playing with New Zealand’s Waitakere United FC and, for a number of seasons, with Honiara champions Makuru Football Club.

He is arguably the Solomon Island’s most well known footballer and has gathered extensive experience for a number of clubs playing in New Zealand and Australia. Menapi has gained in excess of 30 caps for his country and will be invaluable role model to his younger teammates and his lethal striking ability will worry all opponents.

And Marist will come into this weekend’s match high on confidence after a morale boosting 4–0 win over Zome Mars FC, lead by Solomon Islands World Cup Beach Soccer star James Naka during their recent build up to this O-League Championship.

Earlier this week they completed a week long training camp at the NAC facilities in Tenaru. In what may be a good omen the same venue was used by the club when preparing for the finals of the Our Telekom National Club Championship which they then went on to win, beating  Koloale FC 1-0 in the final.

Menapi is accompanied by some other will known Oceania footballers in this Marist squad; midfielder Abraham Iniga, and central defender Jacob Pekau will wear blue and white this season after both switching allegiances from (Group B rivals) Papua New Guinea club Hekari.

Also featured in the 2010 O-League squad are some young players with exciting potential to add to an already potent Marist strike force.

Fleet footed forward Tutizama Tanito was revelation during Marist’s National Club Championship campaign.

Joe Luwi has already established his name in the O-League with KOSSA FC. He comes with a reputation for powerful shooting ability and a canny sense for attacking opportunities.

Experienced midfielder Abraham Iniga will wear the captain’s armband for Marist FC in this season’s O-League. Iniga was a key member of Marist’s acclaimed 2004/05 team which included stars like Jack Samani and Jerry Allen.

Paul Posa is back in charge at Auckland City but has taken a British-type manager's role rather than a straight coaching appointment.

Months of speculation on Posa's likely successor ended yesterday when club chairman Ivan Vuksich called off long-distance negotiations with an interested party in Brazil.

"In the end they [the Brazilians] could not satisfy me that they were the right people for the job," said Vuksich. "There were a lot of demands and there is always a risk in contracting someone sight unseen."

Posa, who took over from Colin Tuaa midway through last season in a caretaker role, was reluctant to commit fulltime this season especially given the demands of a busy season.

"We were aware of that and have gone along with Paul's request that he become basically the manger. He will have two assistants in Ramon Tribulietx and Steve Sarich with Simon Eaddy as goalkeeping coach," said Vuksich. "The rest of the management and medical team remain in place."

Vuksich said the club had been inundated with players keen to join but said most had "over-inflated ideas of how good they are".

They have signed goalkeeper Paul Gothard from Warkworth following his impressive display in a Chatham Cup tie at Kiwitea St earlier this season and Jacob Mathews who was on their books for a time early last season before moving to Waitakere United.

City have also signed former club members Jason Hayne and Daniel Kopricvic on again.

Among the players not signed for the 2009-10 season are long-time goalkeeper Ross Nicholson, George Suri, American Matt Friel, midfielder Liam Mulrooney, Javier Roca (now back in Spain) and, as yet, young striker Milos Nikolic.

City kick their season off with a home game in the O-League against Tahitian side AS Manu Ura on October 17 and play their first NZFC match, again at home, a week later against Waikato FC. Their opening match at the FIFA Club World Cup is against Al Ahli (United Arab Emirates) in Abu Dhabi on December 10 (NZ time).

Story courtesy of nzherald.co.nz

The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Executive Committee has met in the Bahamas during the 59th FIFA Congress this week to discuss a number of important matters such as the future of Oceania’s topflight club competition – the O-League.

Convening at Paradise Island’s Atlantis Hotel on Monday, the executive committee approved the expansion of the O-League from six to eight teams for the 2010 season, with two groups of four playing in a home and away format.  

Tai Nicholas, OFC General Secretary, says the decision is an exciting step forward.

“This expansion reflects the growing popularity of the O-League and will enable more Member Associations to participate in our flagship competition,” said Nicholas.

The 2010 O-League, which kicks off in October 2009, will consist of a Group A including two New Zealand clubs and representatives from New Caledonia and Tahiti plus a Group B made up of teams from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. A decision on the O-League structure beyond the 2010 season will be made in November at the next OFC Executive Committee meeting.

In other matters, the executive committee showed a strong desire to stage future FIFA events with the endorsement of Tahiti’s bid to host the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in 2011.

The committee then expressed support for OFC hosting a FIFA Congress in 2013 and the possibility of hosting a FIFA U-17 World Cup across 4 or 5 Oceania nations in the future.

New regulations were also introduced for the OFC Financial Assistance Program (FAP) giving provisions for Member Associations to comply with the strict audit requirements or lose their funding.

After the executive committee meeting, OFC held its 20th Ordinary Congress which was attended by FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke and other FIFA senior management.

In what was a fitting opening, a presentation was given to acknowledge the ‘Father of OFC’ Charles J. Dempsey, CBE, who passed away on 25 June, 2008.

OFC President Reynald Temarii praised Dempsey for his tireless work throughout Oceania and his commitment to his vision.

“OFC and FIFA owe Charles a debt of gratitude for his complete devotion, extraordinary loyalty and unwavering service to the sport of football.”

President Temarii made a special tribute to the FIFA President who, under his leadership since 1998, has ensured member associations are given the resources through the various FIFA initiatives to enable them to develop the game, touch the world and build a better future. 

He also  outlined the evolution of the financial management of OFC where before 2004, 70% of OFC funds were spent on administration and 30% were made available for the Member Associations while in 2008 this had reversed to 73% for Member Associations and in 2009 this figure is now at 78%.

The FIFA President then addressed the congress acknowledging Dempsey and going on to congratulate OFC for continuing his legacy and progressing even further under the tutelage of President Temarii.

In another presentation, Tahiti’s Tourism Minister Jacques Drollet handed President Blatter an official letter from the Tahitian government giving full support for the bid to host the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2011 and the possibility of hosting a FIFA Congress.

Drollet addressed the delegates saying that Tahiti would be a picturesque setting for the tournament.

“We may be on Paradise Island now, but the real paradise is Tahiti,” said Drollet.

Finally in financial matters, the audited accounts were passed at the congress and a profit of NZ$1 million was confirmed.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Priscilla Duncan
Oceania Football Confederation
Media & Communications
T: +649 526 5651 
F: +649 525 8164
M:+64 (0)21 884 018 
E: priscilla@oceaniafootball.com

Joel Tiller
Oceania Football Confederation
Media & Communications
T: +649 526 5654
F: +649 525 8164
M:+64 (0)21 994 520
E: joel@oceaniafootball.com