(Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek AS Acadeny Féminine players share the dance floor with Kiwi FC players a day before they meet on the pitch in Port Moresby)

For AS Academy Féminine head coach Coralie Bretegnier, the adage one match at a time couldn’t ring any truer than now.

Her young New Caledonian side is in pole position to win the inaugural OFC Women’s Champions League title in Papua New Guinea having beaten host nation side Hekari United and Fiji’s Labasa Women FC in their opening two fixtures.

AS Academy Féminine next face Samoan side Kiwi FC who have lost their first three matches, although they turned in their best performance of the tournament in their most recent outing, a 2-1 defeat to Koloale FC, conceding the winner six minutes from full-time.

Still given how impressive her side has been, Bretegnier could be forgiven for thinking ahead to Saturday’s final match against Koloale.

“No we are going to keep it one match at a time, and it’s not done until the end, nothing is written yet,” Bretegnier responded.

The match at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium in Port Moresby kicks off at 12 midday local time before home side Hekari United return to action against Koloale FC in the 5pm kickoff.

Hekari United had the bye on Monday following their 9-0 rout of Kiwi FC last Saturday and have had a decent break between matches to prepare.

Coach Ericsson Komeng has given his players plenty of time to recover and gear up for what will be two big fixtures against Koloale FC and the final match of the tournament against Labasa Women FC on Saturday.

For Koloale FC, victory for them would set up a virtual winner takes all match against AS Academy Féminine on Saturday, providing the New Caledonian side beats Kiwi FC.

But coach Crystal Bakolo knows her relatively young side will need to raise their performance levels a couple of notches from Monday’s 2-1 win over Kiwi FC.

The Solomon Islands side relies heavily on striker Ileen Pegi, but she will need more support against the fit and highly combative Papua New Guinea side’s defence.
Catch ALL 10 matches of the OFC Women’s Champions League 2023 in Papua New Guinea, streaming LIVE and free here on OFC TV on the OFC website. 

All times local:

MATCH DAY FOUR

8 June

1200 AS Academy Féminine v Kiwi FC – WATCH HERE

1700 Koloale FC v Hekari United FC – WATCH HERE

MATCH DAY FIVE

10 June

1200 Koloale FC v AS Academy Féminine – WATCH HERE

1700 Hekari United FC v Labasa Women FC – WATCH HERE