OFC Champions League Qualifying: 2-2 Draw Good Enough For Tupapa Maraerenga, Who Advance To Group Stage

At Auckland, New Zealand:

In the final game of the OFC Champions League's qualifying round, Andre Estay (10') and Harlem Simiona (50') each scored once as Tupapa Maraerenga wiped out two one-goal deficits to gain a 2-2 draw with Veitonga to advance the the tournament's group stage while ending the Tongan club's campaign.

Final Qualifying-Round Standings:

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

Lupe o le Soaga and Tupapa Maraerenga advanced to the OFC Champions League's group stage.

Group-stage play is set to open on Saturday, February 15.

GROUP A (all games to be played at PNG Football Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, starting on Sunday, February 16):

Hienghene Sport (New Caledonia; defending champions)

Eastern Suburbs (New Zealand)

Hekari United (Papua New Guinea)

ABM Galaxy (Vanuatu)



GROUP B (all games to be played at Luganville Soccer Stadium, Luganville, Vanuatu, starting on Saturday, February 15):

Malampa Revivors (Vanuatu)

Lae City (Papua New Guinea)

Henderson Eels (Solomon Islands)

Lautoka (Fiji)



GROUP C (all games to be played at Numa-Daly Stadium, Noumea, New Caledonia, starting on Sunday, March 1):

AS Magenta (New Caledonia)

Solomon Warriors (Solomon Islands)

Tiare Tahiti (Tahiti, French Polynesia)

Tupapa Maraerenga (Cook Islands)



GROUP D:  (all games to be played at Pirae, Tahiti, in French Polynesia, starting on Sunday, March 1):

AS Venus (Tahiti, French Polynesia)

Ba FC (Fiji)

Auckland City (New Zealand)

Lupe o le Soaga (Samoa)