AS Kirikitr opened the season with a 4-0 victory over Tiga Sports on Thursday to get their campaign underway, while Gaitcha on the other hand lost 3-2 to SC Ne Drehu.
It’s was an unfortunate beginning for the defending champions but they weren’t the only ones posting mixed results so early in the season.
After taking control against Gaitcha on Thursday evening, SC Ne Drehu were downed 3-2 by Tiga Sports on Saturday. It’s early days for the big clubs but they will need to be wary not to drop too many points.
In other results AS Lossi weren’t given an easy welcome back to the season by recently promoted AGJP. The first half saw AGJP pushing Lossi, one of the Super Ligue’s bigger clubs, to their limits, and forcing central defender Pierre Kauma in to making a number of crucial saves.
Against the run of play, the spotlight fell on Lossi centre forward Nathaniel Hmaen who, from a closed angle, fired in a shot which flew past the AGJP keeper. However the newcomers weren’t going to be undone by the exploits of one individual, responding five minutes later with a collective attack which was finished by Antoine Roine.
The turning point was a penalty awarded to AGJP which offered the chance to take the lead, however Lossi glove man Yoran Waima stopped the shot to keep the side’s level. In the aftermath, Lossi captain and playmaker Luther Wanyahmala scored to give his side the lead going into the break.
Returning to the field with a renewed sense of determination Lossi increased the pressure on their opponent as they looked to wrap up the game. A chance in tactics was rewarded with two more goals to Wanyahmala, completing his hat-trick.
Two more goals to Lossi took the score to 5-1 and it looked like there was no return for AGJP, however they intended to finish the match on a high. First with a beautiful volley in the 70th minute then, ten minutes later, substitute Stive Bearune went one-on-one with the keeper and came out on top.
Despite their best efforts AGJP couldn’t quite pull themselves in line before the final whistle, but their performance was certainly a positive start for coach Leon Jebez.
“I am happy with our performance on the offensive side, especially for a first match,” he says.
“But I’m not surprised by my players, it’s been two years since we have been together with the same group, so obviously they know each other well.”
For Lossi’s Thierry Sardo, his side didn’t make the best start, but he was pleased to see them improve as the game progressed.
“My team suffered in the first period but caught up in the second where we played more freely and in a more compact manner,” he says.
Magenta, who will compete in next month’s OFC Champions League, beat AS Wetr 4-2 with a side that is well placed both tactically and defensively.
After taking a 3-0 lead in the first half, Alain Moizan’s side let Wetr back in the game in the last few minutes of the match thanks to a double from Faby Demene. Equalising looked like a possibility until Kala Gungrate made a solo break to round out the match 4-2 in Magenta’s favour.
“We clearly still have work to do, especially on the mental level,” Moizan says. “We have to learn how to suffer.”
The Super Ligue continues this weekend with plenty more high class action promised from New Caledonia’s 12 top teams.
For more on New Caledonia football go to www.fedcalfoot.com

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