Saturday, January 20, 2018

OFC Champions League Qualifying: Tupapa Maraernga Win Opener; Veitongo and Pogo Youth Draw

The qualifying stage for OFC Champions League group-stage berths opened on Sunday (local time) with two games, both contested at Pago Park Soccer Stadium in Pago Pago, American Samoa.

In the opener, Sean Latimer scored the only goal of the match in the 74th minute as Tupapa Maraerenga from the Cook Islands defeated Lupe o le Soaga from Samoa 1-0.

In the nightcap, Veitongo from Tonga and Pago Youth of American Samoa battled to a 1-1 stalemateVeitongo's Sione Uhatahi scored the equalizer in the 90th minute, after Nissan Silao had scored for the club from the host country at 28 minutes.

Qualifying Group Standings:

1. Tupapa Maraerenga (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
2. Pogo Youth  (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
3. Veitongo (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
4. Lupe o le Soaga (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)

The group winner would advance to Group A of the group stage (joining Papua New Guinea's Lae City Dwellers, Vanuatu's Nalkutan, and Fiji's Ba FC) while the runner-up would advance to Group D (joining Team Wellington of New Zealand, Magenta of New Caledonia, and Marist FC of the Solomon Islands); the other two groups have already been filled (Group B with Solomon Warriors of the Solomon Islands, AS Dragon from Tahiti, AS Lossi from New Caledonia, and Eraktor Golden Star from Vanuatu); Group C with Auckland City from New Zealand [the defending tournament champions], Lautoka from Fiji, Madang FC from Papua New Guinea, and Tahiti's AS Venus).

No comments: