OFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DECIDER IN LAUTOKA TODAY
Lautoka, AS Central need win to qualify, Morobe, Eels fight for survival
The OFC Champions League Group B actions resume today at Churchill Park, Lautoka with crucial matches for all the clubs. Front runners, Lautoka FC and AS Central Sport are one win away from securing progression to the next stage while FC Morobe Wawens and Henderson Eels desperately need a win to keep their hopes alive in the competition.
FC MOROBE BACK TO FULL STRENGTH
FC Morobe Mawens club need maximum points to keep them in the competition and AS Central Sport from Tahiti would have one foot in the quarterfinals with a win. The Papua New Guineans were playing without some of their key players and coach when they were crushed 5-0 by Lautoka last Sunday. FC Morobe coach Peter Purari joined the team on Monday and is confident his team are capable of an upset win against the Tahiti Ligue 1 champions.
“To be honest, I wasn’t here, the full strength of the team wasn’t here so what happen on Sunday is Sunday,” he said.
“I think positively we look forward towards tomorrow’s game. It’s our defensive formation which I really need to work on and the attacking also.
“We really don’t know what they (AS Central) are capable of but I think after 90 minutes of football will know where we stand.” Efrain Araneda, AS Central Sport coach said it’s a must win game as a final group match against Lautoka looms.
“We need to take the game seriously to try to win to arrive with 6 points against Lautoka,” he said. Araneda stressed his team have learned both positives and negatives from their win against Henderson Eels.
“I think we started well, than we had some difficulties, we were in trouble. It’s a defensive problem, but I think we’re going to continue improving here until the last match,” he added.
The match kicks-off at 1pm.
Line-up- FC Morobe Wawens: 1. Alois John, 2. Kenneth Palailo, 3. Nathaniel McLeond, 4. Moses Kamakeng, 5. Russel Kambaka, 6. Giwi Simon Muwanz,I7. Michael Saun,
8. Francis Isom, 9. Joshua Panget,
10. Elliot Foni, 11. Bernard Purari,
12. Donatus Bandi, 13. Alu AWi, 14. Jason Farrock, 17. Ferdallas Namuesh, 18. Clarence Yorris, 20. Jason Bendi, 21. William Israel Napo. Coach: Peter Purari (PNG)
AS Central Sport :1. Tetahio Teri in oh o pu a it erai( GK ),2. Christian Tepau (GK), 4. Teiki Kamaou,
7. Sylvain Graglia, 8. Manutahi Tetaria, 9. Cesar Castillo, 10. Manuarii Hauata, 13. Philippe Peni, 15. Pierre Bako, 16. Mikael Roche, 17. Diego Araneda, 19. Heinui Kwong,
20. Georges Bearune, 22. Herehaunui Ferrand, 23. Lorenzo Tehau, 24. Jacques Wamytan, 25. Peter Babka. Coach: Efrain Araneda (Tahiti). Match Officials- Referee: Antony Riley (NZ); Assistant Referee 1: Jeremy Garae (Van); Assistant Referee 2: Marc Sinyeue (NCL); Fourth Official: Nick Waldron (NZ)
BLUES WANT POSITIVE RESULT
Hosts Lautoka will be targeting another positive result following their opening day big 5-0 win over FC Morobe.
A win would see the Blues in the driving seat but standing in their way is a determined Henderson Eels side who heading into the encounter with a must win scenario. Lautoka coach Kamal Swamy paid tribute to Henderson Eels’ fighting spirit in the end against AS Central Sport last Sunday.
Swamy rued his strikers’ missed chances in the game against Morobe and cautioned his players to be shape in front of goal against the Solomon Islanders. “I think in the last 20 minutes that counts and they came back which means they (Henderson Eels) are a strong side,” he said.
“They played until the last whistle and we need to keep that in mind that we cannot relax and at the same if the opportunities come we need to finish it, if we don’t finish it they can punish as in the last 20 minutes.”
Henderson Eels were disappointed after their opening day defeat at the hands AS Central Sport with the game fairly in the balance after a fight back from the Islanders. Like Swamy, Henderson Eels coach Eddie Marahare has urged his players to be ruthless in the attacking third in an uphill battle against the hosts. “Another tough game and hopefully if we could work on our football problems, I think our boys should step up in our second game against Lautoka,” he said.
“Overall, one of the key areas is the boys need to step up their confidence to keep the ball and improve on our finishing.”
The clash gets underway at 4pm.
Line-up Lautoka FC: 3. Zibraaz Hanif Sahib, 4. Afraz Ali, 5. Poasa Bainivalu, 6. Jone Vesikula, 7. Dave Radrigai, 8. Kavaia Rawaqa, 9. Benjamin Totori, 10. Samuela Nabenia,
11. Zainal Aali, 13. Muni Shivam Naidu, 14. Samuela Junior Drudru,
15. Osea Vakatalesau, 16. Daniel Allan, 17. Kolinio Sivoki, 19. Bong Kalo, 20. Mataiasi Toma, 22. Beniamino Mojito Mateinaqara, 23. Viliame Nadani Tabucala. Coach: Kamal Swamy (Fiji)
Henderson Eels: 1. Desmond Tutu (GK), 2. Graham Tanavole, 3. Boni Pride, 4. Derick Taebo, 5. Freddie Kini, 7. Obed Ofea, 8. Rodney Suri,
9. Jimmy Raramane, 10. Tuti Zama Tanito, 12. Clement Baegeni, 15, Joses Nawo, 16. Rollence Misitana, 17, Andrew Rarangia, 18. Rolland Mamanika, 19. Hudson Felani, 20. Augustine Tagana, 23. Raynick LaetaTA, 25. Joel Nango (GK). Coach: Eddie Marahare (Solomons). Match Officials- Referee: Joel Hopken (Van); Assistant Referee 1: Isaac Trevis (NZ); Assistant Referee 2: Gareth Sheehan (NZ); Fourth Official: Calvin Berg (NZ)
-Edited by Grace Narayan
FC Morobe Mawens club need maximum points to keep them in the competition and AS Central Sports from Tahiti would have one foot in the quarterfinal with a win.