PIRAE SWEEP EXCELSIOR ASIDE BUT TEFANA STAY TOP

TAHITI – It was business as usual in the Championnat D1 as leading clubs AS Tefana and AS Pirae both recorded wins to cement their positions at the top of the table. While Pirae were in red-hot form in a 6-2 win against Excelsior, Tefana toiled for a nerve-wracked 1-0 win over TAC. Naea Bennett and Hiro Labaste were the main men for Pirae, both scoring a brace while Pirae’s prodigal son – Jose Hmae – scored from the penalty spot. Axel Williams added the sixth for "Les Oranges" as Excelsior were swept aside.

Other D1 matches scheduled for today include JT vs. Tamarii Faaa and AS Dragon against AS Vaiete.

AS Manu Ura will resume its D1 campaign next week when the squad returns from France after playing in the 2008 Coupe de L’Outre-Mer. Manu Ura – representing French Polynesia – lost all three matches to New Caledonia, Martinique and Guadeloupe.

PIRAE HIT EXCELSIOR FOR SIX

Excelsior (1) 2 (Leon Chan, Bruno Mare)

Excelsior’s evening began brightly enough against Pirae but ended in a deluge of goals and the sound of defeat likely to be left ringing in their ears for weeks to come. Bruno Mare and Leon Chan both went close with early chances for Excelsior, but Pirae’s defence was left largely untroubled. But it was the Pirae quartet of Hiro Labaste, Naea Bennett, Axel Williams and Jose Hmae who proved more incisive. Labaste opened the scoring for Pirae on 25 minutes before Excelsior’s Bruno Mare struck an equaliser on 29 minutes.

With the teams level 1-1 at half-time, Pirae coach Bruno Tehaamoana need not have been concerned; it took just five minutes into the second-half to retake the lead when a Jose Hmae corner was headed powerfully into the Excelsior net by Naea Bennett.Labaste nabbed a third goal just moments later after Excelsior lost possession in its own penalty area. Jose Hmae made it 4-1 from the penalty spot after Excelsior’s Andrew Huri appeared to handle the ball.

As Pirae continued to play attacking football, they left a gap for Leon Chan to exploit on 71 minutes, the Excelsior man making no mistake from close range. The relief for Excelsior was only brief; Axel Williams capitalised on further suicidal defending to make it 5-2 on 76 minutes.

Naea Bennett’s second goal in 85 minutes helped cap a memorable night for resurgent "Les Oranges".

Excelsior will look back on their performance with some regrets after matching Pirae in the first half, but a distinctly naive second half proved fatal, with continued loss of possession at crucial moments illustrating the gap between D1 and the D2 that Excelsior will have to bridge quickly.

TEFANA STAY TOP AS TAC GO CLOSE

TAC (0) 0

A blistering start by Tefana saw Xavier Samin, Taufa Neuffer and Rene Atrewe all go close to scoring past goalkeeper Gilbert Meriel. Meriel had to be in top form to deny a rampant Tefana but despite the heroics could not prevent Neuffer from putting Tefana ahead when he scored on 23 minutes.

Tefana’s one goal lead was a deserved reward for almost total domination of the first half in which TAC defended stoically.

TAC’s only avenue of relief came in sporadic counter-attacks led by Georges Watton, Rainui Moreau and Karl Opuu.

Tefana resisted the attacks from TAC but were handed a nervy final 15 minutes when Henri Caroine was sent off after receiving a second caution. TAC were left frustrated as Tefana held on to record an important win that maintains their 100% winning start to the season. TAC remain in 5th place pending the outcome of D1’s remaining fixtures and will rue missed opportunities in the second half.

Championnat D1

Standings – 06.10.08