In Group B, Mont-Dore welcome Dragon for the francophone derby on Friday 5 April before Auckland City travel to crosstown rivals Waitakere United on Sunday 7 April. The Group A action sees Hekari United play host to Amicale on Saturday 6 April.
The other match of Group B took place yesterday with Solomon Warriors and Ba fighting out a 2-2 draw in front of another large crowd at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
See below for a look at the action that’s in store across the three remaining matches in the second round of the OFC Champions League.
OFC Champions League – Match Day 2 Preview
Mont-Dore [NCL] vs. Dragon [TAH]
The details:
7pm local time, Friday 5 April
Stade Numa Daly
Noumea, New Caledonia
The officials:
Referee: Gerald OIAKA [SOL]
Assistant referee 1: Didier HMUZO [NCL]
Assistant referee 2: Claude CHEVAILLIER [NCL]
4th official: Isidore ASSIENE-AMBASSA [NCL]
The lowdown:
Sporting clashes between sides from New Caledonia and Tahiti are always intensely fought as the two French territories share a long-standing rivalry. Tomorrow’s clash will have added importance however as both teams are yet to post a win and, having been handed a tough assignment in Group B alongside the two Kiwi clubs, a positive result is a must if either harbour hopes of progressing past the group stages. The Dragon camp will be the happier of the pair after holding New Zealand champions Waitakere United to a scoreless draw away last weekend while Mont-Dore failed to make the most of home advantage during a 2-0 defeat to Auckland City. With two of their three home matches coming so early in the piece, Mont-Dore coach Stephane Drahusak will be aware of the need to take something from this match as three tough assignments on the road loom. In contrast, Dragon will finish with a pair of home ties in the closing weeks of the group stage so continuing to pick up points on their travels will set them up nicely for a semi-final push. The Dragon rearguard, led by captain Nicolas Vallar and central defensive partner Tamatoa Wagemann, put in a resolute showing to keep Waitakere’s talented frontline scoreless and coach Ludovic Graugnard will be looking for a similar performance. Drahusak will hope his Mont-Dore men can prove harder to break down than they were against Auckland while he will need more from the likes of U-20 internationals Jean-Pierre Bob and Cedric Decoire going forward.
The quote:
“We will be approaching this match with a conquering spirit. A second loss at home would be very negative for us so we will have to concentrate and play our game throughout the 90 minutes.” – Mont-Dore coach Stephane Drahusak
The squads:
Mont-Dore: 1. Yoran WAIMA [GK], 2. Dominique SAWA, 3. Dan VAKIE, 4. Joseph TCHACKO, 5. Loic BESSIERES, 6. Ludwig ZEOULA, 7. Jean-Pierre BOB, 8. Romain PAINBENI, 9. Jackyno MAOU, 10. Cedric DECOIRE, 11. Alphonse TOKOTOKO, 12. Jean-Marc HMALOKO, 13. Olivier DOKUNENGO, 14. Pascal KENON, 15. Mathieu HERVO, 16. Fabrice WACAPO, 17. Ben MALAKAI, 18. Lamo XEWE, 19. Louis WAIA, 20. Pierre WEINANE, 21. Jacques WAMYTAN, 22. Thomas SCHMIDT [GK], 23. David WADRA, 24. Raphael OIREMOIN, 30. Louis SAMEKE [GK]
Coach: Stephane DRAHUSAK [NCL]
Dragon: 1. Mikael ROCHE [GK], 2. Alexis MAURI, 3. Sebastien GAIRIN, 4. Tamatoa WAGEMANN, 5. Henri CAROINE, 6. Kevin GAUDIN, 7. Efrain ARANEDA ESTAIN, 8. Yannick VERO, 9. Samuel HNANYINE, 10. Raimana LI FUNG KUEE, 11. Andre TEIKIHAKAUPOKO, 12. Jonathan TEHAU, 13. Steevy CHONG HUE, 14. Matatia PAAMA, 15. Heimano BOUREBARE, 16. Edson LEMAIRE, 17. Sylvain GRAGLIA, 18. Xavier SAMIN [GK], 19. Vincent SIMON, 20. Torea MARUOI, 21. Alessandro VALLAR, 22. Nicolas VALLAR, 23. Teaonui TEHAU, 24. Jonathan CABALE, 25. Heremana TEIKIPUPUNI
Coach: Ludovic GRAUGNARD [TAH]
Hekari United [PNG] vs. Amicale [VAN]
The details:
3pm local time, Saturday 6 April
PMRL Stadium
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
The officials:
Referee: Rakesh VARMAN [FIJ]
Assistant referee 1: Norman BAFINU [PNG]
Assistant referee 2: Cedmond PANGAI [PNG]
4th official: Anio AMOS [PNG]
The lowdown:
These sides both have a history of recent success in the competition – Hekari won the title in 2010 while Amicale finished runners-up a year later – and are looking to repeat those feats this season. Like Hekari, Amicale suffered a hangover after their breakthrough campaign, winning just two of their six matches last term. But the Reds are already well on the way to exceeding their previous points total after posting an impressive away win, 2-0 over fired up newcomers Solomon Warriors, and another victory would put them in a great position as they have three home matches in a row coming up. Captain and talisman Fenedy Masauvakalo, who won the golden boot in 2010 but failed to reproduce those heroics last time, found the net with a free kick in the Warriors win while fellow striker Pape Gueye scored from the spot. That duo have the potential to become one of the most feared strike forces in the league and Hekari coach Jerry Allen will have to find a way to shut them down. The likes of Fiji international Taniela Waqa, Andrew Lepani and Koriak Upaiga, who also offers plenty bursting forward from his fullback role, will be charged with that task while local hero Kema Jack is the man Amicale must keep an eye on after getting off the mark in the loss to Ba. Midfielder Daniel Taylor impressed for Papua New Guinea at the recent OFC U-20 Championship and offers some youthful exuberance to the Hekari line-up.
The quote:
“We have got a lot of work to do. Our strikers and wingers in particular need to work extra hard if we want to beat Amicale. Playing another match at home should provide us with the upper hand.” – Hekari United manager Vonnie Kapi Natto
The squads:
Hekari United: 1. Leslie KALAI [GK], 2. Daniel JOE, 3. Malon KALTANAK, 4. Kila POLENA, 5. Daniel TAYLOR, 6. Samuel KINI, 7. Raymond GUNEMBA, 8. Maciu DUNADAMU, 9. Nigel DABINYABA, 10. Wira WAMA, 11. Joachim WAROI, 12. David MUTA, 13. Andrew LEPANI, 15. Wilson GIASUAU, 16. Pita BOLATOGA, 17. Kema JACK, 18. Erikson KOMENG, 19. Koriak UPAIGA, 20. Godfrey BANIAU [GK], 21. Clifton AUMAE, 22. Gure GABINA [GK], 23. Ian YANUM, 25. Taniela WAQA, 27. Calvin BILL, 28. Billson BULLO, 29. Joey AMBROSE, 30. Tuti ZAMA
Coach: Jerry ALLEN [PNG]
Amicale: 1. Chikau MANSALE [GK], 2. Samuel KALOROS, 3. Chanel OBED, 4. George VUTI, 5. Laitia TUILAU, 6. Samuela KAUTOGA, 7. Jean-Robert YALOU, 8. Johnny TIRAENG, 9. Jean NAPRAPOL, 10. Richard ANISUA, 11. Fenedy MASAUVAKALO, 13. Pape GUEYE, 15. Alphonse BONGNAIM, 16. Daniel NATOU, 17. Nelson Sale KILIFA, 18. Jack WETNEY, 19. Souleymane SARR, 20. Michael RUTHERFORD [GK], 21. Paul YOUNG, 22. Paul NGOM, 23. Roddy LENGA, 24. Kency TANGIS, 25. Joses NAWO, 26. Alick MAEMAE, 27. Moffat DEROMOA, 28. Aliou TRAORE, 29. Dominique FRED, 30. Francois SAKAMA, 32. Natou NANUA, 33. Joel NAKAPUE [GK]
Coach: Richard IWAI [VAN]
Waitakere United [NZL] vs. Auckland City [NZL]
The details:
3pm local time, Sunday 7 April
Fred Taylor Park
Auckland, New Zealand
The officials:
Referee: Peter O’LEARY [NZL]
Assistant referee 1: Jan-Hendrik HINTZ [NZL]
Assistant referee 2: Mark RULE [NZL]
4th official: Nick WALDRON [NZL]
The lowdown:
There are no prizes for guessing what the vibe will be like between New Zealand’s leading clubs on Sunday – the crosstown rivals are fierce foes and any encounter between the pair is always emotionally charged and action-packed. With so much on the line in the Champions League – the eventual winner earns a place at the FIFA Club World Cup and a pay cheque of $500,000 USD – this weekend’s match will be no different and Waitakere in particular will be desperate for three points after being frustrated by debutants Dragon last Saturday. Another failure to earn the maximum reward from a home match will
be a major disappointment for coach Paul Marshall as Waitakere have only one game at Fred Taylor Park remaining after this clash. Waitakere’s raft of new recruits – a list that includes English pair Chris Palmer and Billy Colten, former All White Jeremy Christie and veteran defender Bill Robertson – have yet to make their Champions League bows but Marshall is hopeful Palmer and Christie will both be involved this weekend. Auckland’s latest Spanish signing, Gustavo Souto, is emerging as a key figure and could prove a contender for the golden boot after being on target in Noumea. That 2-0 triumph over Mont-Dore was an ideal start for City and a second away win on the trot would lay the foundations for a successful title defence with three home matches in a row on the horizon. Midfielder Alex Feneridis did not travel to New Caledonia due to suspension – he was sent off in the 2nd leg of the final last season – but is back in the frame for this weekend.
The quote:
“Every time you play in the Champions League it’s a big game, whether you’re playing Auckland City or one of the Pacific Island teams. They’re all like cup finals. We’ve played Auckland four times already this year and have had the edge on them, but historically they have done well in this competition.” – Waitakere United coach Paul Marshall
The squads:
Waitakere United: 1. Danny ROBINSON [GK], 2. Aaron SCOTT, 3. Jack BEGUELY, 4. Tim MYERS, 5. Brian SHELLEY, 6. Matt CUNNEEN, 7. Jeremy CHRISTIE, 8. Chad COOMBES, 9. Milos NIKOLIC, 10. Allan PEARCE, 11. Luiz DEL MONTE, 12. Roy KRISHNA, 13. Julyan COLLETT, 14. Daniel JONES, 15. Salesh KUMAR, 16. Tristan PRATTLEY, 17. Jake BUTLER, 18. Sam MATHEWS, 19. Daniel MORGAN, 20. Ryan DE VRIES, 21. Dylan STANSFIELD, 22. Richard GILLESPIE [GK], 23. Masaki NOMOTO, 24. Harshae RANIGA, 25. Bill ROBERTSON, 26. Billy COLTON, 27. Chris PALMER, 28. Alex CARR [GK], 29. Kyosuke KITANO, 30. Rory TURNER
Coach: Paul Marshall [NZL]
Auckland City: 1. Jacob SPOONLEY [GK], 2. Simon ARMS, 3. Takuya IWATA, 4. Adam MCGEORGE, 5. Darren WHITE, 6. Matthew RIDENTON, 7. James PRITCHETT, 8. Chris BALE, 9. Manel EXPOSITO, 10. Gustavo SOUTO, 11. Daniel KOPRIVCIC, 12. Tamati WILLIAMS [GK], 13. Alex FENERIDIS, 14. Adam DICKINSON, 15. Ivan VICELICH, 16. Albert RIERA, 17. Pedro GARCIA, 18. Damian HIRST [GK], 19. Mario BILEN, 20. Emiliano TADE, 21. David BROWNE, 22. Andrew MILNE
Coach: Ramon TRIBULIETX [ESP]

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