TAHITI – Tahiti U-20’s second victory in succession was convincingly secured against a hapless JT side carved open in a blistering opening 25 minute period of play that will have rivals sitting up and taking notice.
Resurgent AS Pirae was brought back to earth after squandering a 2-0 lead over title-contenders AS Dragon to draw 2-2. Pirae defeated AS Manu Ura 2-1 in a pulsating encounter last week but were left holding on near the end of their match with Dragon that leaves ‘Les Oranges’ in third place.
TAHITI U-20 STROLL TO VICTORY
CHAMPIONNAT D1
Tahiti U-20 (4) 5 (Atani, Warren, Tahau, Teriitau, Chong Hue)
JT (1) 1 (Nehemia)
Last week’s clinical defeat of AS Tamarii Faaa by 5-2 served as no warning for JT who found themselves cut adrift from this match within 8 minutes thanks to a stunning strike by Stanley Atani.
Jay Warren set the tone for further JT misery when he capitalised on some poor defending to make it 2-0 on 15 minutes. Patrice Nehemia gave JT some hope after his bullet-header on 26 minutes punished some slack Tahiti U-20 defending.
Tahiti U-20 responded in much the same way as they did in last week’s match with AS Tamarii Faaa; after conceding a sloppy goal against the run of play, they rallied straight back into attack against JT, scoring twice before the break through Lorenzo Tahau and Ariihau Teriitau, via a penalty.
JT were reduced to knocking long balls in behind Tahiti U-20 but with their accuracy a mixed bag and even less support given to their toiling front men, it was all too easy for Lionel Charbonnier’s charges.
The scoring was completed by last week’s hat-trick hero, Steeve Chong Hue, confirming his credentials at Tahiti’s hottest striking talent.
RESILIENT DRAGON CLAIM SHARE OF THE SPOILS
CHAMPIONNAT D1
AS Pirae (2) 2 (Labaste 2)
AS Dragon (0) 2 (Li Fung Kuee, Maruoi)
TAHITI – Reliability is an oft-used word when describing the characteristics of a championship wining defence. It’s a quality AS Pirae will be searching for desperately in the coming days after they surrendered what looked a match-winning 2-0 lead to an AS Dragon side boasting a resilience also a quality of champions.
AS Pirae looked to be cruising toward victory through a double strike by Hiro Labaste – the first, an opportunist goal after Dragon’s Stephan Gélima got into a tangle with goalkeeper Teiva Mollon – then on a superb half-round in additional time, Dragon joined the cloakrooms with the doubt.
With Pirae 2-0 to the good, AS Dragon’s Raimana Li Fung Kuee kick-started his team’s fight back in the 52nd minute with a goal of supreme quality, perhaps moreso for its effect on Dragon’s up until then lethargic performance rather than its technical merits.
With Fassain and his defence unable to stop the Tahitian international from scoring at close range, AS Pirae went missing for a phase in the match that would prove costly.
It was during that spell of ascendancy that AS Dragon were level through Rene Maruoi who followed up a blistering Li Fung Kuee long range shot that goalkeeper Ricky Fassain stopped with his finger tips but couldn’t hold onto.
From that moment on this Championnat D1 match turned into an exciting end-to-end match with both teams playing some entertaining football. In the end a 2-2 result suited both teams, although AS Pirae will feel aggrieved about their display in the second-half that allowed Dragon back into the match.
Championnat D1
Standings – 22.09.08
|
|
PL |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
PTS |
GD |
|
|
1. |
|
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
3 |
8 |
+7 |
|
2. |
AS Dragon |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
2 |
6 |
+4 |
|
3. |
AS Pirae |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
3 |
6 |
+1 |
|
4. |
AS Tefana |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
+4 |
|
5. |
JT |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
3 |
-4 |
|
6. |
Excelsior |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
|
7. |
AS Manu Ura |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
-1 |
|
8. |
Tamarii Faaa |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
-3 |
|
9. |
AS Vaiete |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
-4 |
|
10. |
TAC |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
-4 |
Championnat D1
Results
AS Dragon vs. AS Pirae 2-2