Waitakere United Coach Chris Milicich said his side will change nothing in the approach to their O-League clash with AS Manu Ura in Tahiti on Friday (Sat – NZT), after beating
the Division Federale champions 2-1 in their last O-League match at Fred Taylor Park last year.
When the two sides met on October 31st on Match Day Two of the O-League it was Former NZ Knights striker Neil Emblem who rescued the game for Waitakere with the match winner in the 79th
minute.
Waitakere were slow to get out of the gates and were punished by the Tahitian side two minutes into the second half through a Hiashi Kake strike.
An Emblem rocket and a piece of magic from Benjamin Totori won the game for the O-League Champions though the win was anything but convincing and Milicich knows the standard of
performance will need to be raised to get a result away from home.
“We’re right outside our comfort zone in a country which we aren’t acclimatized to playing a team we haven’t seen for a while on a pitch we’ve never played on,” said Milicich.
“We know it’s going to be tough but we expect our players to be able to cope with these factors and do the job.”
Milicich will travel with his full squad though Solomon Island international striker Commins Menapi is still under an injury cloud with a groin strain.
Waitakere sit top equal with intercity rival’s Auckland City in Group A after one match with City also beating the Tahitian side 6-0 on Match Day One.
Waitakere scored a convincing 5-0 win over Hawke’s Bay United in the last round of the NZFC and Milicich said the result was very important in re-establishing confidence in his
players after a few disappointing results.
“It was very important for us because we needed to get back on track after a bit of a hiccup and we definitely did that with a bit of a hiss and a roar. I’m happy where we
are right now and have started to feel really confident again in our ability to score goals.”
AS Manu Ura coach Pita Teivitau said his side will not be making any tactical changes from when the two sides met in October, though he is happy to have his goalkeeper back to
bolster the backline after being sanctioned.
Teivitau said he expects a good turnout to support the local side and that his players are eagerly awaiting the clash.
“It is a big advantage to receive a team on your home field,” said Teivitau. “All the Division Federale matches are played on Friday nights, so that too is a big advantage for
us.”
“The O-League is of a much higher standard than the Division Federale but I am confident we can get a result, and a win would be very pleasing for me.”
The match kicks off on Friday 15th February at 8pm in Papeete (Sat 7pm – NZT)