Do or die for Lautoka
It is a three horse race in Group B of the 2019 OFC Champions League as AS Central, Lautoka FC and Henderson Eels are still in pole positions for the quarterfinals heading into final match day tomorrow. AS Central Sport convincingly beat FC Morobe Wawens 7-0 to put one foot into the quarterfinals and Henderson Eels upset Lautoka FC 6-5 with a great game of football to keep their last eight hopes alive. Despite being ruled out, Papua New Guinea’s FC Morobe Wawens head coach Peter Purari told SUNsports that they want to finish on a positive note.
“And for that to happen we must win our last game against Henderson Eels,” he said. At the AS Central Sport from Tahiti are leading Group B with six points. Coach Efrain Araneda told OFC Media that they had a slow start and it is something they need to work on before their clash against Lautoka.
Solomon Islands champion club Henderson Eels played with pride to pull off the upset win against favourites Lautoka.
“First of all as a Christian country I just want to dedicate the win to the almighty,” head coach Eddie Marahare said.
“It’s a good comeback for us especially we lost in the first game and I am really happy about the win.”
Marahare said the advise he gave in the dressing room was when he reminded the players that they have 45 minutes to decide on their fate in the OFC Champions League . “That’s why the players worked hard until the end of the game, so I am very happy with the players.”
Lautoka FC head coach Kamal Swamy said lapse of concentration in the later stage of the game cost them dearly.
“We were lethargic in the last 20 minutes that’s why we gave away two goals,” he said. “We need to prepare well in defence as that was where we were not ready for.
“We committed a lot of fouls, we were illdiscipline in defence and that’s how we lost the game.”
The hosts were also helped by Vodafone national coach Christophe Gamel, Henderson Eels are now equal on 3 points with Lautoka heading into the final Group B matches.
The Eels will take on FC Morobe Wawens at Churchill Park at 1pm while Lautoka FC and AS Central Sport will round up Group B with a do-or-die clash for the hosts at 4pm.