Sunday, January 31, 2016

AFC Champions League Qualifying: Mohun Bagan Advances To Second Preliminary Round

At Kolkata (Calcutta), India:

Cornell Glen scored what proved to be the winning goal in the 42nd minute this past Wednesday as Mohun Bagan took out visiting Tampines Rovers from Singapore 3-1 to win their East Zone one-game preliminary playoff as qualifying for AFC Champions League group-stage berths commenced.

Next up for the Indian club, a trip to Jinan, China, and a one-game second preliminary-round playoff this coming Tuesday with Shandong Luneng Taishan.  The winner will next battle Adelaide United in Australia the following Tuesday with the winner to the group stage, with the right to compete with Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Japan), FC Seoul (South Korea), and Buriram United (Thailand) in Group F, with play starting on February 23.

OFC Champions League: Vailima Kiwi Advance To Group Stage

Two games were contested at CIFA Academy Field in Matavera, Cook Islands on Saturday as the preliminary round for an available OFC Champions League group-stage berth concluded.

In the opener, Campbell Best (44', 57', 59') and Josh Karika (74', 88', 90'+5) each produced a hat trick as Tupapa Maraerenga destroyed Utulei Youth 9-1 to keep their flickering hopes of advancing to the group stage alive-----for the time being.

In the nightcap, Jamie Mason (25' , 68', 90'+4) and Sam Blackburn (31', 64', 90') each delivered a hat trick as Vailima Kiwi clinched the preliminary group and advanced to the group stage with a 7-1 annihilation of Veitongo FC.

Final Preliminary Group Standings:

1. Vailima Kiwi (GP: 3; GD: +11; PTS: 9)
2. Tupapa Maraerenga (GP: 3; GD: +14; PTS: 6)
3. Utulei Youth (GP: 3; GD: -11; PTS: 3)
4. Veitongo FC (GP: 3; GD: -14; PTS: 0)

Vailima Kiwi, by winning the Preliminary Group, advanced to the OFC Champions League's group stage and will compete in Group C alongside Nadi FC of Fiji, AS Magenta from New Caledonia, and French Polynesia's-----actually Tahiti's----AS Tefana.

Friday, January 29, 2016

OFC Champions League Qualifying: Kiwi On Cusp Of Advancing To Group Stage

The preliminary round for OFC Champions League group-stage qualifying continued on Thursday with two games, both played at CIFA Academy Field in Matavera, Cook Islands.

In the opener, Kaleopa Siligi scored the winning goal in the 84th minute as Utulei Youth kept their slim hopes of winning the Preliminary Group with a 3-2 win over Veitonga, eliminating the Tongan club from contention.

In the nightcap, Tomas Mosquera scored the winning goal in the 65th minute to carry Vailima Kiwi FC to a 2-1 victory over Tupapa Maraerenga.  The club from Samoa can lock up a group-stage berth with a Saturday draw against eliminated Veitonga.

Preliminary Group Standings:

1.    Vailima Kiwi FC (GP: 2; GD: +5; PTS: 6)
2.    Tupapa Maraerenga (GP: 2; GD: +6; PTS: 3)
3.    Utulei Youth (GP: 2; GD: -3; PTS: 6)
4. z-Veitonga FC (GP: 2; GD: -8; PTS: 0)

z-Eliminated

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

OFC Champions League: Kiwi, Tupapa Maraerenga Take Prelim Round Openers

The preliminary round for the one available OFC Champions League group-stage berth commenced on Tuesday with two games, both contested at CIFA Academy Field in Matavera, Cook Islands.

In the opener, Tomas Masquera produced a hat trick (PK-34', 40', 90'+1) while Martin Packer added a double (75', 77') as Vailima Kiwi FC (Samoa) blew out Utulei Youth (American Samoa) 6-2.

In the nightcap, Jared Colligan delivered a hat trick (PK-7', PK-13', 42') while Harlem Simiona added a double (31', 70') as Tupapa Maraerenga (Cook Islands) destroyed Tonga's Veitongo FC 7-0.

Preliminary Group Standings:

1. Tupapa Maraeranga (GP: 1; GD: +7; PTS: 3)
2. Vailima Kiwi FC (GP: 1; GD: +4; PTS: 3)
3. Utulei Youth (GP: 1; GD: -4; PTS: 0)
4. Veitongo FC (GP: 1; GD: -7; PTS: 0)

The winner of this group will qualify for the OFC Champions League's group stage and will participate in Group C, alongside Nadi FC (Fiji), AS Magenta (New Caledonia), and AS Tefana (French Polynesia).

Here are the two other groups:

GROUP A:

Auckland City (New Zealand; defending champions)

Amicale FC (Vanuatu)

Solomon Warriors (Solomon Islands)

Lae City Dwellers FC (Papua New Guinea)



GROUP B:

Team Wellington (New Zealand)

PRK Hekari United (Papua New Guinea)

Suva FC (Fuji)

AS Lossi (New Caledonia)



Group-stage play commences on April 8.