Already the Kiwis hold a narrow advantage over their counterparts after Leg 1 finished in a 1-1 draw in front of a 10,000 strong crowd in Port Vila last Saturday.
The visitors took the lead after 29 minutes when Emiliano Tade slipped an effort past Chickau Mansale. Amicale threw everything behind their attack coming back from the break and eventually got what they were looking for when Dominique Fred fired past Tamati Williams with 11 minutes remaining.
While the hosts got a well-deserved draw Auckland City picked up an all-important away goal, but coach Ramon Tribulietx is under no illusions.
“We’ve got a slight advantage but if we think that will be enough next week to win the OFC Champions League then we have a problem,” he states.
“We have to prepare properly and make sure we compete well in what now shapes up as a one-off game.”
Striker Ryan de Vries lapped up the atmosphere laid on by the Vanuatu fans and was pleased his side could net a precious away goal.
“The atmosphere in Vanuatu was great and a few of our boys haven’t played in a venue where there are 10,000 people in the stadium,” de Vries says.
“There was a bit of pressure there but by scoring early in the tie we’ve set ourselves up nicely for the second leg.”
He believes Auckland City have definitely earned themselves an advantage but like his coach says there is still work to be done.
“The away goal is a good advantage and we’re on our home patch now. The tie could go either way, but we’re a ball playing team and with hard work and some luck, we can win on Sunday and go back to Morocco.”
While the pitch in Port Vila did neither side any favours, Amicale are certain the renowned Kiwitea Street surface will play to both sides’ advantage.
“The pitch will be better. We’re eagerly awaiting the second leg,” says Amicale coach Nathan Hall.
“We’ll play better on a better pitch and players like Esava Naqaleca will thrive on a top surface and I think Shivan Swamy will become more confident. Jack Wetney will be better in one-on-one situations where he’s able to push the ball past his opponent and go by him.”
Amicale defender Colin Marshall is among those players happy to be stepping out on a much improved surface.
“It’s going to be a lot harder next week in Auckland, it’s going to be a better pitch,” he says.
“I’d imagine Auckland are going to wet the pitch to make the ball move faster and make things more in their favour, but honestly, this tie is not over.
“We showed we could come back from a goal down in Port Vila and we beat them in the group stage so we have to go there full of confidence.”
One thing weighing on Marshall’s mind is the absence of talismanic captain and his defensive colleague Nelson Sale who will miss the second leg after picking up consecutive cautions against Ba of Fiji and Auckland City.
“We have to score a goal next week. Nelson is a massive loss for us,” Marshall says.
“He’s a competitor, he leads everybody really well and his physical attributes are exceptional but hopefully we’ve got a few good players in the squad so hopefully someone can step in and take their opportunity.”
The match will be officiated by Norbert Hauata of Tahiti and kicks off at Kiwitea Street in Sandringham, Auckland at 2pm local time.
The winner of the OFC Champions League qualifies for the FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2014 in December.
Extra Information:
Media Coverage
Live text updates of the OFC Champions League Final 2nd Leg can be followed at oceaniafootball.com or via OFC’s official Twitter account @OFCFootball .
LIVE BROADCAST
The OFC Champions League 2nd Leg will be streamed live at OFC’s official YouTube channel in both English and Bislama.
OFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL 2nd Leg
Sunday 18 May, 2014
Auckland City FC [NZL] v Amicale FC [VAN]
Kiwitea Street, Sandringham
Kick-off: 2pm NZST / 1pm VANT
Referee: Norbert HAUATA (TAH)
Assistant Referee 1: Tevita MAKASINI (TGA)
Assistant Referee 2: Phillipe REVEL (TAH)
Fourth Official: Averii JACQUES (TAH)
Previous Meetings:
02.04.11 – Amicale FC 1-2 Auckland City FC – 2011 OFC Champions League Final 1st Leg
17.04.11 – Auckland City FC 4-0 Amicale – 2011 OFC Champions League Final 2nd Leg
18.01.12 – Auckland City FC 3-2 Amicale – 2012 OFC Champions League Group Stage
31.03.12 – Amicale FC 1-0 Auckland City FC – 2012 OFC Champions League Group Stage
14.04.14 – Amicale FC 1-0 Auckland City FC – 2014 OFC Champions League Group Stage
10.05.14 – Amicale FC 1-1 Auckland City FC – 2014 OFC Champions League Final 1st Leg
Head to head: Played 6, Amicale 2 wins, Auckland City FC 3 wins, 1 draw.
AMICALE FC Form: W-W-W-W-D-D
Vital statistics:Amicale are the first non-Australian or non-New Zealand club to reach the Champions League final twice. Should they emerge victors from the final leg of the final, Amicale will also become the only non-Australian/New Zealand team other than Hekari United in 2010 to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup. The final on Sunday will also be Amicale’s 26th match in the Oceania Champions League tournament.
The players: Amicale will be without captain and central defender Nelson Sale who is suspended. Top scorers for Amicale are Kensi TANGIS, Dominique FRED and Nikola VASILIC with three goals apiece; together with the freshly available Sanni ISSA and veteran Fenedy MASAUVAKALO, Amicale have a formidable strike team capable of swinging the second leg firmly in their favour.
Squad list: 1. Chikau MANSALE (GK), 4. David TALONE, 6. Shivan SWAMY, 8. Milan MATIC, 9. Esava NAQALECA, 10. Nikola VASILIC, 11. Sanni ISSA, 13. Francois SAKAMA, 15. Alphonse BONGNAIM, 16. Daniel NATOU, 18. Robert TOM, 20. Michael RUTHERFORD (GK), 21. Paul YOUNG, 23. Roddy LENGA, 24. Kensi TANGIS, 25. Laitia TUILAU, 26. Silas NAMATAK, 27. Octav MELTECOIN, 28. Johnny TIRAENG, 29. Dominque FRED, 30. Jack WETNEY, 31. Marko DORDEVIC, 32. Rodney SEVEREUX, 33. Joel NAKAPUE, 34. Colin MARSHALL, 35. Richard ANISUA, 38. Barry MANSALE
Coach: Nathan HALL (AUS)
AUCKLAND CITY FC Form: W-W-L-W-L-D
Vital statistics:The defending champions are chasing their fourth consecutive Oceania crown and sixth title overall. With a win over the two legs, Auckland City stand to make history as the team with the most appearances at the FIFA Club World Cup. They are currently tied with Egyptian club Al-Ahly with five. Their last match with Amicale in an OFC Champions League Final match at Kiwitea Street saw the Navy Blues prevail 4-0 on 17 April 2011.
The players: Emiliano TADE is Auckland City’s top-scorer with five goals and he is fit for selection to challenge for the Golden Boot award – he needs one goal to equal AS Pirae striker Naea BENNETT’s overall tally of six. Darren WHITE is comes back into the mix after missing Leg 1 with a suspension.
Squad list: 1. Tamati WILLIAMS (GK), 3. Takuya IWATA, 4. Mario BILEN, 5. Angel BERLANGA, 6. John IRVING, 7. James PRITCHETT, 10. Ryan DE VRIES, 11. Daniel KOPRIVCIC, 15. Ivan VICELICH (C), 16. Dae Wook KIM, 17. Joao MOREIRA, 18. Louie CAUNTER (GK), 19. David BROWNE, 20. Emiliano TADE, 21. Mario ILLICH, 22. Andrew MILNE, 23. Sam BURFOOT, 25. Sean LOVEMORE, 26. Sean MORRIS
Coach: Ramon TRIBULIETX (ESP)

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