Amicale, Auckland target semi-finals

Dragon and Nadi kick off the action this afternoon and neither team have a chance to make the semi-finals and will be playing for pride. Both sit on zero points after two straight losses and a win would not give either team enough points to advance.

Dragon were defeated 3-0 by Auckland City in a match that started off looking as though Dragon’s undefeated record against the New Zealanders would hold. But after 14 minutes Emiliano Tade broke the deadlock and Auckland secured their domination of the game.
Coach Ludovic Graugnard faces a tough challenge lifting his side now their elimination is confirmed.
“It’s going to be difficult mentally now that the qualifications are finished. We’ve lost two players, so we’ll play other players who deserve to play – and haven’t so far because of reasons of choice.
“We’ll come back and play the best we can with the players we have to finish in the best possible position,” he says.

Likewise, Nadi fell 6-0 to Amicale, the second largest scoreline in the group stage this season. Coach Kamal Swamy saw two of his players red-carded in the game and Nadi struggled to battle through with only nine men.
With his team decimated by suspensions, Swamy looks set to give his fringe players pitch time.
“We will come with some of the players from the bench and give them a run so that will be beneficial for our season and hope that we qualify for the OFC Champions League next year,” he says.

Later in the afternoon it’s a battle at the top as Amicale take on Auckland City.

The winner of today’s match will secure their place in the semi-final playoff and it’s not one that Nathan Hall or Ramon Tribulietx will want to let slip easily.

Both teams routed their opposition in the second round of matches, but the scoreline of today’s fixture is likely to be less clear.

The head-to-head record swings Auckland City’s way – with three matches won to Amicale’s one – and three of the four matches ended with only a goal’s difference in the scoreline.
Amicale coach Nathan Hall was understandably delighted with his team’s last performance but admits a showdown with the defending champions won’t be easy.
“The 6-0 win over Nadi was a great confidence booster heading into a very tough game today,” he says, “The boys really dug deep, I was really happy with the overall performance against Nadi, especially the second half display.”
“It’s going to be a battle for 90 minutes against a very good side. We respect them, but as I said a few days ago, we don’t fear anybody. We know what we can do, we know our capabilities and I genuinely believe if we perform to our limits then we can get a good result today,” Hall says.

Amicale will be going into the match on a high with comfortable wins and all players intact. Auckland continues to be without integral defender Angel Berlanga but their new signings have made a strong impact especially Daewook Kim who has scored in both his appearances.

Amicale currently leads Group B with maximum points and a goal difference of seven. Auckland City also have six points but a marginally lesser goal difference of six while Dragon and Nadi have zero points at the bottom of the table.
Auckland City FC coach Ramon Tribulietx remains focussed on what his team need to do to advance to the semi-finals for the fourth season in a row.
“We’ve given thought about what we can do to counter attack Amicale’s strengths, that’s for sure. We’ll see what happens now in the last game,” Tribulietx says.

A draw would be enough to send both teams through to the last four regardless of results elsewhere.
“Kick Dengue Out of Fiji” – UNICEF Pacific/OFC/Fiji Government/Fiji FA
The OFC Champions League also marks the UNICEF Pacific, Fiji Government, OFC and Fiji FA social responsibility campaign “Kick Dengue Out of Fiji”, aimed at raising awareness of Dengue Fever.
For an informative videos on this campaign click here and here
For more information about “Kick Dengue Out of Fiji” please visit www.oceaniafootball.com and download the official Media Guide located under the “Fans” banner.
The OFC also acknowledges competition partners Vodafone Fiji, Courts and Sports World.
Media Coverage
Television stations EMTV – Papua New Guinea, Solomon Telekom TTV – Solomon Islands, VBTC – Vanuatu, FBC Fiji, Fiji TV and TNTV – Tahiti will broadcast all matches live in their nations and territories.
For radio, broadcasters FM 107 – Vanuatu, FBC Radio – Fiji and Communications Fiji Ltd will provide live coverage of matches, while OFC Radio will present live audio coverage of every match in English.
The OFC Radio (ENG) link can be accessed here: http://bit.ly/1okoVwU – with Jason PINE.

Live streaming of matches is suspended but full coverage of matches can be viewed at the official OFC TV YouTube channel.
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Extra information:

The players: Ratu BAINIVALU and Uraia LOKI are out with red cards from Friday. Rusiate MATAREREGA remains injured. With Nadi eliminated from the competition, coach Kamal SWAMY may elect to give his fringe players some much needed experience at this level.

The vital statistics: With their OFC Champions League dream over for another season, hopefully Nadi will not have to wait as long as they did between this and their first appearance – back in 1999 where they finished runners-up.

Squad list: 1. Vereti DICKSON [GK], 2. Malakai RAKULA, 3. Rahul KRISHNA, 4. Jone SALAUNEUNE, 5. Rusiate MATAREREGA, 6. Astley LEE, 8. Krishna SAMI, 9. Vuniuci TIKOMAIMEREKE, 11. Ilimotama JESE, 12. Ame VOTONIU, 13. Lekima GONERAU, 15. Napolioni QASEVAKATINI, 16. Amani VALEBALAVU, 17. Mataiasi TOMA, 18. Eliki RAVOSAI, 19. Shafim BUKSH, 20. Jolame VUKUVUKI, 21. Beniamino MATEINAQARA [GK], 22. Levi SAUKURU [GK], 23. William VALENTINE, 24. Arvin PRATAP, 25. Isoa RATUVA

Coach: Kamal SWAMY (FIJ)

AS Dragon Form: L-L

The players: Henri CAROINE is suspended after a red card on Friday.

The vital statistics: Dragon may not have had the campaign they were aiming for but will be playing for a win in their 8th OFC Champions League appearance. Their last win in the tournament was 3-1 against Auckland City FC almost exactly one year ago, on 17 April 2013. Dragon have now gone four matches in the OFC Champions League without a win following two draws with Auckland City FC and AS Mont Dore, and two defeats in this edition to Auckland City FC and Amicale.

Squad list: 1. Mikael ROCHE [GK], 2. Victor SNOW, 3. Stanley ATANI, 4. Pierre KUGOGNE, 6. Jacques TETAUIRA, 7. Efrain ARANEDA, 8. Yannick VERO, 9. Samuel HNANYINE, 10. Teaonui TEHAU, 11. Andre TEIKIHAKAUPOKO, 12. Alvin TEHAU, 13. Steevy CHONG HUE, 14. Dylan PAAMA, 16. Edson LEMAIRE, 17. Sylvain GRAGLIA, 18. Teheipuarii HAUATA [GK], 19. Teata SIMON, 20. Torea MARUOI, 21. Jonathan TEHAU, 22. Nicolas VALLAR, 23. Rainui RUA, 24. Pembele GONGUI, 25. Tamatoa WAGEMAN, 26. Sebastien GAIRIN, 27. Alessandro VALLAR

Coach: Ludovic GRAUGNARD (FRA)

Amicale FC v Auckland City FC
Churchill Park, Lautoka
Monday 14 April 2014
Kick-off: 4pm
AMIvAKL

The players: Coach Nathan HALL has all his players available to him. The win against Nadi on Friday will be a big morale boost to the squad who line up against the defending champions today.

The vital statistics: Amicale are well on track to their second straight semi-final and a win today will secure that. 6-0 is now the biggest margin by which the Vanuatuans have posted a win in the OFC Champions League.

Squad list: 1. Chikau MANSALE [GK], 4. Davide TALONE, 6. Sivan SWAMY, 7. Alick MAEMAE, 8. Milan MATIC,
9. Esava NAQELECA, 10. Nikola VASILIC, 13. Francois SAKAMA, 15. Alphonse BONGNAIM, 16. Daniel NATOU, 17. Nelson SALE, 18. Robert TOM, 20. Michael RUTHERFORD [GK], 21. Paul YOUNG, 22. Fenedy MASAUVAKALO, 23. Roddy LENGA, 24. Kensi TANGIS, 25. Laitia TUILAU, 26. Silas NAMATAK, 27. Octav MELTECOIN, 28. Johnny TIRAENG, 29. Dominique FRED, 30. Jack WETNEY, 31. Marko DORDEVIC, 32. Rodney SERVEUX, 33. Joel NAKAPUE [GK], 34. Colin MARSHALL, 35. Richard ANISUA, 38. Barry MANSALE

Coach: Nathan HALL (AUS)

Auckland City FC Form: W-W

The players: Angel BERLANGA remains unavailable after reports confirm he is side-lined for three months. Alex FENERIDIS is also absent with injury after he rolled his ankle at training. James PRITCHETT will make his 200th Auckland City FC club appearance in all competitions dating back to his debut for the New Zealand side in 2004. PRITCHETT is the first player to reach this club milestone. He also makes his 49th OFC Champions League appearance, a competition record. PRITCHETT made his debut in the OFC Champions League in Papaeete, Tahiti, during a 3-2 defeat to Sydney FC of the Hyundai A-League in 2005.

The vital statistics: The same three players have scored all of Auckland City FC’s goals thus far in the tournament – Joao MOREIRA, Emiliano TADE, and Daewook KIM. KIM in particular is now 2-for-2 in his appearances for the Navy Blues.
Squad list: 1. Tamati WILLIAMS [GK], 3. Takuya IWATA, 4. Mario BILEN, 6. John IRVING, 7. James PRITCHETT, 9. Darren WHITE, 10. Ryan de VRIES, 15. Ivan VICELICH, 16. Daewook KIM, 17. Joao MOREIRA, 18. Louie CAUNTER [GK], 19. David BROWNE, 20. Emiliano TADE, 22. Andrew MILNE, 23. Sam BURFOOT, 25. Sean LOVEMORE, 26. Sean MORRIS, 21. Mario ILICH.

Coach: Ramon TRIBULIETX
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