Waitakere United have taken the initiative in the race for top honours in Group A of the 2007 OFC O-League following a 3-0 victory over AS Mont Dore today. Waitakere’s victory means a draw in their final Group A match against arch-rivals Auckland City will be enough to seal an O-League Final berth for the West Aucklanders against Fijian champions Ba.
Goals for Solomon Islands international Commins Menapi, Michael Gwyther and Craig Wylie have put Waitakere United in the driving seat ahead of the Group A showdown on Wednesday April 4th and NZFC Final at North Harbour Stadium on Monday 16th April, 2007 against Auckland City.
Waitakere United coach Steve Cain was delighted with the performance, “The team turned in a very professional performance and I’m very very pleased with the result. AS Mont Dore played very well at times and looked dangerous and it wasn’t until we got the third goal that the result was secured.”
Waitakere United emerged from the fixture with no injury worries ahead of the April 4th showdown with Auckland City but Cain refused to believe that Waitakere United have one foot in the 2007 OFC O-League Final.
“The outcome of Group A is in the lap of the Gods and we will have to wait and see before we start celebrating anything but we will go into the game full of confidence, ” Cain said.
AS Mont Dore’s fourth straight O-League defeat means New Caledonia’s club representative will participate in the O-League Preliminary Tournament scheduled for May, 2007, in the Cook Islands.
OFC Champions League
Group A
At Stade Nouma Daly,
Noumea,
New Caledonia
AS Mont Dore 0
Waitakere United 3 (Commins Menapi 11, Michael Gwyther 39, Craig Wylie 50)
Halftime: 0-2
Standings – Group A
Played Won Drawn Lost GF GA Points
Waitakere United (NZL) 3 2 1 0 11 3 7
Auckland City (NZL) 3 2 1 0 8 2 7
AS Mont Dore (NCL) 4 0 0 4 1 15 0
Remaining Fixtures:
Wednesday 4th April, 2007
Auckland City vs. Waitakere United
At Kiwitea Street,
Auckland
Kickoff: 4.00pm
GOALSCORERS:
4 – Commins MENAPI (Waitakere United)
3 – Paul URLOVIC (Auckland City), Grant YOUNG (Auckland City), Joe LUWI (Marist FC)
2 – Daniel KOPRIVCIC (Waitakere United), Bryan LITTLE (Auckland City), Laisenia TUBA (Ba FC), Keni DOIDOI (Ba FC).
1 – Osea VAKATALESAU (Ba FC), Danny HAY (Waitakere United), Allan PEARCE (Waitakere United), Hoani EDWARDS (Waitakere United), Patrick DIAIKE (AS Mont Dore), Roneel KUMAR (Ba FC), Jean Francois KABEU (AS Temanava), Tuimasi MANOCI (Ba FC), Roberto POIROI (AS Temanava), Maheanu ARAPARII (AS Temanava), James NAKA (Marist FC), Craig WYLIE (Waitakere United), Michael GWYTHER (Waitakere United), own goal.