Group D of the OFC Champions League 2020 in Tahiti will likely be remembered for Lupe Ole Soaga SC’s stunning 4-3 upset of Ba FC.
Lupe, who earned their spot in the pool after winning the Qualifying Stage tournament in New Zealand in January, became the first team from Samoa to win a game in the group stage of the competition.
“It’s a proud moment for us, this is history for a club in Samoa, just winning a game,” Lupe coach Paul Ualesi said after the win over Ba on matchday two. “I’m so proud of my boys.”
Group D was full of high-scoring encounters as perennial contenders Auckland City FC topped the pool with three wins from as many games without conceding a goal.
Poor weather conditions meant the first round of fixtures needed to be moved to Stade Pater but the second and third matchdays were conducted at Stade Mahina, the home ground of AS Venus.
It was in the slippery conditions at Stade Pater where Venus midfielder Tamatoa Tetauira struck a well-placed free kick against Lupe but as you can see in the video above, that wasn’t the only great goal that was scored in Group D.
In the midst of the seven-goal thriller between Ba and Lupe, Ba’s Malakai Tiwa curled home a well-placed shot with his left foot.
But if that wasn’t enough, Auckland City’s Dylan Manickum also added one for the highlight reel with his goal against Lupe that found the top corner.
AS Venus finished second in the pool behind Auckland City with Lupe in third and Ba fourth.
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