The day’s opening match saw Solomon Warriors end their afternoon second in the Group A tally after a comprehensive 8-0 victory saw their goal difference significantly improve to nudge them ahead of Waitakere United.
The marquee match had more than just the hopes of AS Pirae and Waitakere United riding on it, as Auckland City’s bid for the fourth semi-final spot rested on this evening’s result as well.
Not a side to muck around when it comes to the crunch, Pirae opened the scoring 45 seconds into the match through an effort from Raimana Li Fung Kuee. Not wanting to lose their advantage Pirae got a little scrappy with the goal scorer going in the book five minutes later, before Ken Warren was cautioned five minutes later.
In the 17th minute Naea Bennett added his fifth goal of the competition when he blasted a shot under a diving Danny Robinson in goal for the New Zealand side. At the other end of the field, Pirae goalkeeper Jonathan Torohia was immense between the sticks, with his height giving him just enough of an advantage to continually deny the Waitakere advances into his area.
Just a minute into the second half it looked like Waitakere might have found some of that luck they’d been looking for as Pirae found themselves down to ten men. A challenge from Huimana Parker to prevent a clear goal scoring opportunity saw referee Bertrand Billon flash red.
Waitakere pulled themselves back into the match through New Zealand U-20 international Joel Stevens in the 56th minute and it looked like all hope wasn’t lost for the West-Auckland side. Waitakere United coach Paul Temple made a couple of attack-minded changes and despite a couple of clear opportunities on an open goal couldn’t convert to keep their hopes alive.
Like Auckland City goalkeeper Tamati Williams in his match against Amicale, Waitakere’s glove man Robinson flew forward as the half moved into additional time in an effort to pull another back – but instead earned himself a yellow card. Pirae charged upfield in a last-ditch attack and after a few quick passes around the top of the box Jimmy Tepa fired home to seal the semi-final spot and set up an encounter with defending champions Auckland City.
Assistant coach Samuel Garcia couldn’t be happier to win through to the semi-finals after a concentrated campaign with one objective.
“Our approach to this competition has been one of seriousness. We’ve taken it match-by-match and I’m very happy with how the boys have carried themselves,” he says.
“Obviously I’m very happy to be through to the semi-finals, we started the match well, and we scored quickly before getting another relatively early. We took a red card which was annoying. Congratulations to the boys, and all the staff because it really has been a team effort.”
Looking ahead to the clash with Auckland City Garcia says there is every chance his side can win through to the final.
“We have a team of boys who get along with each other incredibly well. They’re serious and there’s a lot of experience in there. We know that Auckland City is certainly the favourite, but we won’t look at that instead we will be focusing on ourselves and we will work to be the best.”
Waitakere co-coach Paul Temple says his team performed to the best of their ability but couldn’t find the goals they needed to progress.
“I couldn’t have asked more of the boys to be honest. It was a 90 minute onslaught,” he says.
“I’m not sure how we lost 3-1. We had lots of chances and unfortunately we couldn’t take them but I couldn’t be prouder of the boys, they put in loads of effort, they created lots of chances but we couldn’t get the luck that we needed.”
As for his opponent’s chances in the semi-finals, Temple doesn’t believe Pirae has what it takes to overcome the defending champions.
“They’re a good side with some good players but Auckland will be too strong for them. There’s no doubt in my mind that Auckland will be going through. They’ll be the best team left in the competition and they’ll go through and win it.”
Meanwhile in the earlier match Solomon Warriors set their chase for a first victory in motion from the get-go. As they had done throughout the previous two matches, James Naka and Micah Lea’alafah continued to look outstanding with the ball at their feet. Six minutes was all it took for Naka to find the back of the net after Kiwi keeper Masi Toetu spilled a corner effort. Lea’alafah quickly followed, adding his first of the afternoon two minutes later.
Lea’alafah grabbed his second with a clever chip on the 20 minute mark before earning his hattrick with a sweeping finish off a generous Naka cross. The fifth goal was slotted home by Dennis Ifuanaoa three minutes before the break.
To their credit, Kiwi never gave up and probably saw the most attacking chances in this match that they’ve seen throughout the group stage with Silas Seda probably called into action on more occasions than he expected. Mikey Saofaiga’s immense pace gave him a couple of good chances but it was almost like a force field around the goal kept Kiwi from getting a much deserved consolation goal.
Instead, Solomon Warriors only continued to add to their tally, with coach Moses Toata bolstering his attack in the second period. Jerry Donga entered the fray and in barely 20 minutes had rounded the defence to hit in off the cross bar. Fellow substitute Gagame Feni was the author of the seventh goal, before Lea’alafah knocked in his forth to go equal with Pirae’s Naea Bennett in the Golden Boot race just before the close of the match.
Clearly a second 8-0 drubbing wasn’t what Kiwi coach Martin Tamasese had in mind for his side’s final match in Fiji.
“Obviously it’s really bad for us, but this is our first Champions League. Next time we have a chance to return, we’ll try to come back stronger,”
“The level is really different to what we play back home so if we qualify again we’ll train harder to try and match it next time.”
For counterpart Moses Toata, a high scoreline was exactly what was expected from this match, and anything less from his side was unacceptable.
“In the first half the boys managed to put away five goals and according to our game plan we were trying to get double figures. Unfortunately we only managed to score eight goals – but it’s ok. A win is a win,” he says.
While he’s missed a chance at the semi-finals which is an obvious disappointment, Toata says he hopes to improve and come back stronger.
“We will go home and enjoy the local league and try to qualify for the Champions League next year.”
The OFC Champions League picks up again with the home and away semi-finals which will be held over the weekends of 26/27 April and 3/4 May. Ba FC will face up to Amicale FC, while AS Pirae have set themselves up against defending champions Auckland City FC.

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