World Club Championship Oceania Qualifiers [R]

Discussion in 'Oceania' started by Crowdie, May 7, 2006.

  1. Crowdie

    Crowdie New Member

    Jan 23, 2003
    Auckland, New Zealand
    The two New Zealand teams contesting the Oceania club championship soccer qualifying tournament this week have boosted their squads with drafted players.

    Auckland City and Manawatu have both called in four players from elsewhere in the New Zealand Football Championship (NZFC) to improve their chances in the eight-team tournament starting in Albany on Wednesday.

    The winners are guaranteed $US1 million ($NZ1.6 million) and a playoff against the leading Japanese J-League side for a place at the world club championship finals in December.

    NZFC champions and tournament favourites Auckland City have lost midfielder Jonathan Smith to injury but have drafted in All Whites defender Che Bunce, promising Hawke's Bay midfielder Jason Hayne and attacking Team Wellington brothers Graham and Bryan Little.

    Runners-up in the round-robin Manawatu have turned to a third Wellington player, Matt Adams, along with fellow-centre back Andrew Boyens of Otago United, Canterbury United midfielder Andy Barron and New Zealand Knights defender Cole Tinkler.

    Auckland City open their account against Papua New Guinea's Sobou on Wednesday while Manawatu kick off a day later against Fijian champions Nokia Eagles United.

    New Zealand teams:

    Auckland City: Ross Nicholson, Richard Gillespie, Nick Hyde, Jonathan Perry, Paul Vodanovich, Mathew Cunneen, James Pritchett, Greg Uhlmann, Riki Van Steeden, Paul Seaman, Liam Mulrooney, Chad Coombes, Neil Sykes, Paul Urlovic, Grant Young, Keryn Jordan, Che Bunce (Waikato FC), Jason Hayne (Hawke's Bay), Bryan Little (Team Wellington), Graham Little (Team Wellington)

    Manawatu: Commin Menapi, Alick Mae Mae, Benjamin Totori, Adam Cowan, Sanjay Singh, Hayden Englefield, Ian Robinson, Ian Sandbrook, Campbell Banks, Mark Tesar, Darren Cheriton, Jordan Buchanan, Jared McElhannan, Cory Chettleburgh, Nick Roydhouse, Nathan Hill, Andrew Boyens (Otago United), Matt Adams (Team Wellington), Cole Tinkler (NZ Knights), Andy Barron (Canterbury United)

    Groups:

    Group A: Auckland City (NZ), AS Pirae (Tahiti), Marist (Solomons), Sobou (Papua New Guinea).

    Group B: Manawatu (NZ), Nokia Eagles United (Fiji), AS Magenta (New Caledonia), Tafea (Vanuatu).

    Draw:

    May 10: Marist v Pirae, Auckland v Sobou

    May 11: Magenta v Tafea, Eagles Utd v Manawatu

    May 13: Auckland v Marist, Magenta v Manawatu

    May 14: Tafea v Eagles United, Pirae v Sobou

    May 16: Sobou v Marist, Pirae v Auckland, Tafea v Manawatu, Eagles United v Magenta

    May 19: Semifinals

    May 21: Third/fourth playoff, final

    Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3660548a6561,00.html
     
  2. happy

    happy Member

    Nov 23, 2004
    Good to see OFC getting off their feet to form Club championship at last :)
     
  3. Flyin Ryan

    Flyin Ryan Member

    May 13, 2004
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Group A Results

    Auckland City FC 7 (Keryn Jordan 11, Grant Young 38, Liam Mulrooney 53, Graham Little 66, 76; Bryan Little 69, Jason Hayne 90+) Sobou FC 0. Halftime: 2-0.

    Marist FC 1 (Abraham Iniga 90+) AS Pirae 10 (Jose Hmae 21 pen, 53, 90; Naea Bennett 32, 48, 66, 69; Desmond Faauiaso 45, Axel Williams 67, 82). Halftime: 0-3.

    Standings

    Group A P W D L GF GA PTS
    AS Pirae (TAH) 1 1 0 0 10 1 3
    Auckland City FC (NZL) 2 1 0 0 7 0 3
    Sobou FC (PNG) 2 0 0 1 0 7 0
    Marist FC (SOL) 2 0 0 1 1 10 0
     
  4. leg_breaker

    leg_breaker Member

    Dec 23, 2005
    So Sobuo and Marist have played two, won none, drawn none and lost one?
     
  5. Flyin Ryan

    Flyin Ryan Member

    May 13, 2004
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Copy and paste.

    Group B Results

    Tafea FC 1 (Fedy Vava 90+) AS Magenta 0 (HT: 0-0)

    Nokia Eagles United 2 (Apisalome Turuva 18 pen, Marika Namaqa 75) YoungHeart Manawatu 2 (Commins Menapi 39, Benjamin Totori 54) (HT: 1-1)

    Standings
    1. Tafea FC (VAN) 3pts
    2. Nokia Eagles United (FIJ) 1pt
    3. Youngheart Manawatu (NZL) 1pt
    4. AS Magenta (NCL) 0pts
     
  6. Crowdie

    Crowdie New Member

    Jan 23, 2003
    Auckland, New Zealand
    Tafea FC 1 AS Magenta 0

    May 11, 2006

    Fedy Vava has snatched a stoppage-time winner for Tafea FC in the Vanuatu champion’s OFC Club Championship opener against AS Magenta on Thursday night.

    The dreadlocked defender deflected a free-kick into the net deep into injury time at North Harbour Stadium to seal a 1-0 win for Tafea over the plucky New Caledonian champions.

    Both sides ended the Group B opener with 10 men. Magenta’s Nicholas Ouka saw red in the 50th minute when, as the last defender, he tugged at the shirt of flying Tafea’s frontman Jean Naka Naprapol.

    Tafea’s numerical advantage last until the 83rd minute when New Zealand referee Peter O’Leary showed Richard Iwai a straight red for an off-the-ball incident involving Magenta captain Andre Sinedo.

    Vava’s late, late winner saved the match as a spectacle after 90 minutes of aimless kicking, little structure and over hit passes.

    The best chance of a dour first half fell to Jean Yelou but the Tafea striker volley attempt at the box of the box ended in an embarrassing air-shot.

    Tafea’s Moise Poida skimmed the free-kick following Ouka’s dismissal over the cross bar before Samson Obed side-footed the Vanuatu side’s best chance over the bar after Magenta goalkeeper Michel Hne mis-judged a freekick.

    Magenta finished the stronger side with Michel Hmae lobbing a 73rd minute shot onto the bar before Paul Poutinda blasted the rebound over the bar.

    Sinedo then sent a glancing header wide in the 88th minute.

    But Vava popped up at the far post just when it looked like both sides would end the match with 10-men and a point apiece.

    Tafea FC 1 (Fedy Vava 90+) AS Magenta 0. Halftime: 0-0.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  7. Crowdie

    Crowdie New Member

    Jan 23, 2003
    Auckland, New Zealand
    YoungHeart Manawatu 2 Eagles United 2

    May 11, 2006

    A stunning goal from Eagles United defender Marika Namaqa has seen YoungHeart Manawatu held to a surprise draw in their Oceania Club Championship opener in Albany.

    Namaqa rifled a 35-metre, right-footed rocket past cast Manawatu goalkeeper Hayden Englefield to earn the Fijian champions a 2-2 draw at North Harbour Stadium.

    The point was nothing more than Eagles deserved for their part in the match of the FIFA Club World Cup qualifying tournament to date.

    The Fijians marked themselves as serious title contenders with a physically uncompromising display, particularly in the midfield where Manawatu’s Ian Robinson and Adam Cowan bravely put themselves in the thick of action.

    Apisalome Turuva gave the Fijians an 18th minute lead when he converted from the penalty spot after Manawatu defender Andy Boyens chopped Osea Vakatalesan down on the right hand edge of the box.

    Commins Menapi’s 39th minute equaliser for Manawatu was fortunate with the striker appearing to handle the ball after Campbell Banks’ edge of the box drive was blocked.

    Manawatu came alive in the second half thanks to their skilful Solomon Islands connection of Menapi, Alick Maemae and Benjamin Totori and went ahead when Totori expertly nestled the ball in the right hand side netting after great lead-up work from All Whites striker Campbell Banks.

    But Manawatu coach Colin Tuaa was left ruing several missed half-chances including a pair of first half headers from Boyens that went wide and a Menapi blast that skimmed the near-post three minutes before Namaqa’s screamer.

    “It could have been worse based on the way we started…I don’t know if it was nerves or what but we just didn’t fire in the first half,” Tuaa told nzsoccer.com

    “I thought towards the end of the first half we got back into it and scored and then when Benjamin got the second I thought we had it. But we got punished for not taking the three or four good chances we had after that…[Namaqa’s goal] was a great strike.”

    Manawatu now have their work cut out to top Group B now after Vanuatu’s Tafea FC beat New Caledonia’s AS Magenta 1-0 with a stoppage time winner from Fedy Vava.

    Tuaa will be keen to avoid second spot as that is likely to earn a semifinal against New Zealand Football Championship winners Auckland City.

    “We’ve got to be pleased we got something out of tonight because at least we’re on the board…that’s important in the first in the first game,” Tuaa said.

    Both New Zealand teams are in action on Saturday with Auckland facing Marist FC (Solomon Islands) at 2.45pm before Manawatu meet AS Magenta at 5pm.

    Friday is a rest day.

    Eagles United 2 (Apisalome Turuva 18 pen, Marika Namaqa 75) YoungHeart Manawatu 2 (Commins Menapi 39, Benjamin Totori 54). Halftime: 1-1.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  8. JLSA

    JLSA Member

    Nov 11, 2003
    Hmm, why don't Arsenal call up some "exciting young" Manchester United prospects to boost their chances against Barcelona. Or Barcelona could draft in Ronaldo for a Ro-Ro partnership.

    Or, why don't the islanders just aggregate and make their "club" sides de-facto national sides. Oh... they already do that :rolleyes:

    Didn't this suggestion die a while ago? I haven't been following it.

    J
     
  9. Crowdie

    Crowdie New Member

    Jan 23, 2003
    Auckland, New Zealand
    One of the perks of amateur football I suppose.

    Yes. The OFC club champion is guaranteed a place now.
     
  10. Crowdie

    Crowdie New Member

    Jan 23, 2003
    Auckland, New Zealand
    Auckland City 3 Marist FC 1

    May 13, 2006

    Auckland City became the first semifinalist at the Oceania Club Championship in Albany after outlasting Marist FC on soggy North Harbour Stadium on Saturday.

    Goals from All Whites striker Paul Urlovic and Grant Young gave the repeat New Zealand Football Championship winners a 2-0 halftime lead over the Solomon Islands champions.

    Marist gave themselves a sniff when striker Sebastian Misiga turned All Whites defender James Pritchett inside out before neatly slotting past goalkeeper Ross Nicholson to make it 2-1 n the 68th minute.

    But Auckland made the points and their semifinal qualification safe when second half substitute Graham Little converted from the penalty spot six minutes from time for his third goal of the FIFA Club World Cup qualifying tournament.

    Auckland looked surprised to be awarded the penalty by Tahitian referee Jacques Averii who booked Joesph Lani for tugging at the shirt of City defender Riki Van Steeden at a corner.

    Constructive football was almost impossible on the water-logged pitch which continued to take a dousing throughout the match. This became evident after just 37 seconds when Urlovic watched a goal-bound shot pull up in the slush.

    Auckland again created plenty of chances but uncharacteristically failed to convert most of them as they had in their 7-0 win over Papua New Guinea’s Sobou FC on Wednesday night.

    Paul Seaman, Grant Young (twice), Urlovic and Liam Mulrooney all missed good chances in the second half.

    “I’m very pleased to get three points and obviously to get through the semifinals…now it’s down to the wire,” Auckland coach Allan Jones told nzsoccer.com

    “We were playing to the conditions, not just the team and it was very tough. You couldn’t criticise any player for anything technical because you could only really go forward and hook the ball into space…it must have looked like a comedy of errors up in the stands.”

    Jones used the conditions to explain away Auckland’s poor finishing but was not so forgiving when questioned about Marist’s goal.

    He said Auckland’s plus nine goal differential (the same as AS Pirae who play their second Group A match on Sunday) was not a “concern”.

    “The thing that upset me was the goal…I hate getting goals against me.”

    There were few standout performances given the conditions although Auckland captain Neil Sykes was in the thick of the midfield action in the first half while Chad Coombes produced some nice crosses from the right after halftime.

    Auckland will look to finish top of group A when they play AS Pirae on Tuesday night (7.30pm).

    Tahiti’s AS Pirae can seal the second semifinal spot in Group A when they play Papua New Guinea’s Sobou FC on Domain 3 at North Harbour Stadium on Sunday (3.15pm).

    Sunday’s early match pits Vanuatu’s Tafea FC against Fiji’s Eagles United at 1pm, also on Domain 3.

    Auckland City: Ross Nicholson, James Pritchett, Jonathan Perry, Greg Uhlmann, Riki Van Steeden, Jason Hayne (Liam Mulrooney 46), Paul Seaman Chad Coombes, Neil Skyes, Paul Urlovic (Graham Little 76), Grant Young.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  11. Crowdie

    Crowdie New Member

    Jan 23, 2003
    Auckland, New Zealand
    YoungHeart Manawatu 3 AS Magenta 0

    May 13, 2006

    New Caledonian international Andre Sinedo faces a lengthy ban after striking referee Ben Williams late in Saturday night’s Oceania Club Championship match between AS Magenta and YoungHeart Manawatu in Albany.

    The AS Magenta captain shoved the Australian official in the side of the head after seeing red for his second bookable offence in an often spiteful match on a water-logged North Harbour Stadium.

    Sinedo will face an OFC-convened judicial hearing within 48 hours of the ugly incident which marred Manawatu’s 3-0 win – a result that keeps Colin Tuaa’s men on track for a semifinal berth at the FIFA Club World Cup qualifying tournament.

    The defender was first cautioned for dissent after Magenta goalkeeper Michel Hne was injured in a 50-50 tackle with Manawatu substitute Campbell Banks in the 71st minute. Hne was stretchered off with a suspected knee ligament injury.

    Sinedo then saw red after again arguing with a decision by Williams in the 89th minute. The strapping defender then lost his head and struck Williams after the official had brandished his red card.

    The ugly scenes continued when Manawatu midfielder Adam Cowan was then allegedly spat in the face by a Magenta player as he walked to the sideline to be substituted.

    It was a sad end to an uncompromising encounter where the slushy conditions made constructive football difficult and sliding tackles a frightening proposition.

    “No one likes to see that,” Manawatu coach Colin Tuaa told nzsoccer.com afterwards.

    “There was a bit of off the ball stuff throughout the match but thankfully for us we kept our heads. We’re two games in and we’ve only had one yellow card so it’s a credit to the boys.”

    Manawatu, like Auckland City in their semifinal sealing 3-1 win over Marist FC (Solomon Islands) in the early match today, were unable to capitalise on numerous chances as Magenta’s attempt to play the offside trap failed miserably.

    Commins Menapi gave Manawatu the lead in the 22nd minute when he finished coolly after being put through by a delightful Benjamin Totori ball.

    But the Palmerston North side had to wait until the 86th minute before defender Andy Boyens put the result beyond doubt when he tucked home a loose ball from an Ian Robinson freekick.

    Totori made it 3-0 a minute later when he cut in from the right and slipped the ball under Magenta’s reserve goalkeeper Dimitri Petemou.

    Robinson and Ian Sandbrook pulled the strings in midfield while Totori was a fancy-footed creator down the right flank again following an eye-catching display in Manawatu's earlier 2-2 draw against Fiji's Eagles United. Manawatu’s defence, bolstered by Team Wellington import Matt Adams and former All White Sanjay Singh, were rarely troubled.

    “I’m very pleased, that was a good performance tonight,” Tuaa said afterwards.

    “We were very solid at the back in very challenging conditions, scored three good goals and kept a clean sheet. I couldn't ask for much more.”

    Manawatu need a point from their final group B match against Vanuatu’s Tafea FC on Tuesday to be assured of a semifinal berth. The match is to be played at Bill McKinlay Park in Mt Wellington (5pm).

    YoungHeart Manawatu: Hayden Englefield, Darren Cheriton, Andy Boyens, Matt Adams, Sanjay Singh, Adam Cowan (Brent Argyle 90+), Ian Sandbrook (Nathan Hill 90+), Ian Robinson (captain), Alick Maemae, Benjamin Totori, Commins Menapi (Campbell Banks 62).

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  12. Crowdie

    Crowdie New Member

    Jan 23, 2003
    Auckland, New Zealand
    Tables

    GROUP A

    Code:
               Played   Won   Drawn   Lost   For   Against   Points
    Auckland   2        2     0       0      10    1         6
    AS Pirae   1        1     0       0      10    1         3
    Sobou      1        0     0       1      0     7         0
    Marist     2        0     0       2      2     13        0
    
    GROUP B

    Code:
                Played   Won   Drawn   Lost   For   Against   Points
    Manawatu    2        1     1       0      5     2         4
    Tafea       1        1     0       0      1     0         3
    Eagles Utd  1        0     1       0      2     2         1
    Magenta     2        0     0       2      0     4         0
    
     
  13. Crowdie

    Crowdie New Member

    Jan 23, 2003
    Auckland, New Zealand
    Tahitians Seal Semi-Final Spot

    May 14, 2006

    Tahiti's AS Pirae became the second confirmed Oceania Club Championships semifinalist on Sunday while Fiji's Eagles United joined YoungHeart Manawatu atop group B.

    Pirae overwhelmed Papua New Guinea's Sobou 7-0 on Domain 3 at North Harbour Stadium to join Auckland City in the final four.

    Eagles United were emphatic 4-0 winners over Vanuatu’s Tafea FC as dismal weather continued to dog the FIFA Club World Cup qualifying tournament.

    With Sunday's matches moved off North Harbour's main stadium it was Eagles skipper Marika Namaqa who opened the scoring for the Fijians with a carbon copy of his 40-yard wonder strike from match day 2, leaving David Chillia in the Tafea goal with no chance.

    Osea Vakatalasau doubled the lead after 79 minutes, rounding Chillia and rolling into the empty net before substitute Kamal Hassan completed the scoring with a late brace of goals to send the Eagles top of their group, ahead of Manawatu on goal difference.

    In Group A, the orange juggernaut of AS Pirae continued their impressive opening to the tournament with a 7-0 demolition of Sobou FC. Axel Williams led the charge with a hat-trick, supplemented by two goals a piece to Joseph Luenu and Desmond Faauiaso (pictured above right/file pic).

    The win sealed AS Pirae a semifinal spot, with their clash against Auckland City on Tuesday set to decide top spot in Group A. Melanesian neighbours Sobou FC (PNG) and Marist FC (Solomon Islands) will fight out for third place and possible automatic qualification for next years OFC Champions League.

    There is still all to play for in Group B with crucial matches on Tuesday between Tafea FC and Youngheart Manawatu and AS Magenta and Nokia Eagles United.

    Source: http://www.nzsoccer.com/plugins/newsfeed.cgi?rm=content&plugin_data_id=12526

    [​IMG]
     
  14. condor11

    condor11 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 2, 2002
    New Zealand
    hope Manawatu wins this...long shot but still
     
  15. Crowdie

    Crowdie New Member

    Jan 23, 2003
    Auckland, New Zealand
    Condor11,

    Do you have a link to the Manawatu region or a favourite player in the Manawatu squad?
     
  16. condor11

    condor11 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 2, 2002
    New Zealand
    i have lived in the region since i was 8...the Manawatu region is shall we say not exactly leading new zealand in sporting achivement

    be good to win something.....:D
     
  17. Crowdie

    Crowdie New Member

    Jan 23, 2003
    Auckland, New Zealand
    All New Zealand final on the cards....

    YoungHeart Manawatu and Auckland City remain on course to meet in Sunday’s US$1 million Oceania Club Championship final after Tuesday’s group stage deciders produced a flurry of red cards and an escape act of Harry Houdini proportions.

    Auckland will play Fiji’s Eagles United in the first of Friday’s semifinals at North Harbour Stadium before Manawatu face Tahiti champions AS Pirie after the NZFC teams topped their respective groups in contrasting fashion today.

    Auckland won group A thanks to an 85th minute Graham little winner in a 1-0 win over Pirie where both teams finished with nine players apiece.

    Manawatu, meanwhile, fought back from 3-0 down after 50 minutes to draw 3-3 with Tafea FC – a comeback that clinched top spot in group B while condemning the Vanuatu champions to an early exit from the FIFA Club World Cup qualifying tournament.

    Tafea appeared semifinal bound when Etienne Merger and Hubert Naked, the latter with a double, gave the Vanuatu club a 3-0 lead by the 49th minute.

    But Manawatu roared back into the Bill McKinlay Park clash in Mt Wellington with 58th and 72nd minute strikes from Commins Menapi and captain Ian Robinson respectively before Solomon Islands import Benjamin Totori equalised a minute from time.Andy Boyens and Richard Iwai

    Totori beat two defenders before rifling a shot into the top left-hand corner from an acute angle on the right hand side of the box.

    “I suppose that’s a trait we’ve had all season, the ability to get back into games….we’re over the moon,” Tuaa told nzsoccer.com afterwards.

    “Obviously you always have a bit of doubt [at 3-0 down] but you have to back yourself. We made some changes, threw more players forward and it was just a matter of getting that first goal because we had a lot of ball.”

    “We threw the kitchen sink at it and to get the late equaliser in our most important match of the season was fantastic.”

    AUCKLAND CITY 1 AS PIRAE 0

    Meanwhile, referee Ben Williams produced eight cards in total – half of them red – during the Auckland-Pirae match on North Harbour Stadium’s Domain 3.

    Auckland defender Paul Vodanovich was the first to go after clipping Naea Bennett from behind in the 40th minute as the Pirea captain – seemingly offside - bore down on goal.

    Pirae’s numerical superiority lasted just 21 minutes before Heirani Bennett saw red for a studs up tackle on Auckland’s Matt Cunneen.

    Cunneen’s midfield mate Chad Coombes was next to receiving an early shower when Williams ruled Combs had deliberately handled on the line in the 79th minute. But Pirae could not capitalise with midfielder Jose Hmae hoofing the resulting penalty way over the crossbar.

    Little made Pirae pay when he stabbed home the winner from a goalmouth scramble with five minutes remaining – just three minutes before receiving a elbow in the nose that saw Area Resopawiro become the fourth player to see red.

    Vodanovich and Coombes are both automatically suspended for Friday’s semifinal while Heirani Bennett and Resopawiro could yet face two match bans as their dismissals were for serious foul play and violent conduct respectively.

    If Oceania does hand down two match suspension, it would see the duo miss the final providing if Pirie were to advance to Sunday’s final.

    In todays other matches, Eagles United lost top spot in group B when they were upset 1-0 thanks to Albert Korea’s 84th minute winner for AS Magenta (New Caledonia).

    A Jack Samna hat-trick helped Marist FC (Solomon Islands) overpowers Papua New Guinea’s Sobou FC 7-1 and finish third in group A.

    SEMIFINAL DRAW (Friday, May 19)

    Auckland City v Eagles United - North Harbour Stadium Outer Oval (2.30pm)

    YoungHeart Manawatu v AS Pirae - North Harbour Stadium No 1 (6pm)

    Source: http://www.nzsoccer.com/plugins/newsfeed.cgi?rm=content&plugin_data_id=12573
     
  18. Hachiko

    Hachiko The Akita on Big Soccer

    Jun 8, 2005
    Long Beach, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    At em, City.
     
  19. Crowdie

    Crowdie New Member

    Jan 23, 2003
    Auckland, New Zealand
    Auckland Waltz Into Final

    May 19, 2006

    Auckland City have waltz into Sunday's $US1 million Oceania Club Championship final with a 9-1 demolition of Fiji's Eagles United.

    [​IMG]

    The NZFC champions came from a goal down to score eight unanswered second half goals in the last 38 minutes of their semifinal on North Harbour Stadium's outer oval.

    [​IMG]

    South African marksman Grant Young and Scottish striker Graham Little lead the way for Auckland with two goals apiece while midfielder Paul Seaman scored the all-important game-breaker in the 52nd minute after captain Neil Sykes had equalised in the 37th minute.

    OCEANIA CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS – SEMIFINALS

    Auckland City 9 (Neil Sykes 37, Paul Seaman 52, Keryn Jordan 55, Grant Young 61, 62; Jason Hayne 68, Che Bunce 84, Graham Little 89, 90+) Eagles United 1 (Malakai Tiwa). Halftime: 1-1.
     
  20. Crowdie

    Crowdie New Member

    Jan 23, 2003
    Auckland, New Zealand
    Auckland City To Meet AS Pirae In The Final

    May 19, 2006

    Auckland City will meet AS Pirae in Sunday’s US$1 million Oceania Club Championship final after the Tahitians dashed YoungHeart Manawatu’s hopes of making it an all Kiwi decider.

    AS Pirea goalkeeper Jonathon TotohiaCity romped into the FIFA Club World Cup qualifying final with a 9-1 demolition of Fiji’s Eagles United on Friday but Manawatu were pipped 2-1 by Pirae in a thrilling second semifinal at North Harbour Stadium.

    [​IMG]

    Manawatu were stunned when skilful frontrunner Jose Hmae gave Pirae the lead after just 32 seconds by tapping in a beautifully worked move by the Tahitians.

    Pirae captain Naea Bennett lay on the final pass for Hmea before doubling the Tahitian champion’s advantage in the eighth minute when he coolly rounded advancing Manawatu goalkeeper Hayden Englefield to stab into an empty net after being put clear by Teva Zaveroni.

    Pirae were beating Manawatu at their own slick inter-passing game with Bennett, Hmae and Desmond Faauiaso in the thick of their best moves. Only two fine saves from Englefield and some sloppy finishing prevented Pirae from going to halftime with a greater advantage.

    Solomon Islands winger Benjamin Totori gave Manawatu heart when he shrugged off a shirt clinging defender to blast past advancing Pirae goalkeeper Jonathan Torohia.Manawatu's Commins Menapi

    Torohia would have the last laugh however, pulling off a string of world-class saves to leave Manawatu heartbroken. The Pirae custodian saved his best effort until the 90th minute when he flung himself sideways to tip a powerful Boyens header from a corner over the bar.

    [​IMG]

    Manawatu coach Colin Tuaa could only rue his side’s slow start afterwards.

    “We had opportunities there in the end but obviously our poor start cost us the game…we’re pretty gutted,” Tuaa told nzsoccer.com

    “We were just at sixes and sevens in the first 10 minutes and you can’t do that at this level in a game as important as this.”

    Tuaa believes Auckland can provide Manawatu with a not insignificant monetary consolation in Sunday’s final providing they press Pirae defensively.

    A 30 percent slice of the tournament’s US$1 million payday will be shared between the seven other New Zealand Football Championships franchises if Auckland win. A further 60 percent would be spilt equally between Auckland’s players and the club with the remaining 10 percent to be reinvested into the game by New Zealand Soccer.

    “Auckland have got to do a job for NZ Soccer now which I’m sure they will. Pirea are technically very good but you’ve just got to get into their faces early on which is what we didn’t do,” Tuaa said.

    YoungHeart Manawatu 1 (Benjamin Totori 61) AS Pirae 2 (Jose Hmae 1, Naea Bennett 8). Halftime: 0-2.

    OFC CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
    May 21
    North Harbour Stadium

    FINAL - Auckland City v AS Pirae, North Harbour Stadium, 5pm
    Playoff for 3rd-4th - YoungHeart Manawatu v Eagles United, 2.45pm
     
  21. jonny63

    jonny63 Member+

    Feb 17, 2005
    Norway
    Keryn Jordan has led Auckland City to the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan with a million-dollar hat-trick.

    The former South African international scored 23rd, 41st and 63rd minute goals, the latter from the penalty spot, as Auckland beat Tahiti's AS Pirae 3-1 in Sunday's Oceania Club Championship final at North Harbour Stadium.

    Auckland's sweet triumph has earned the Kiwitea St club a place at December's FIFA Club World Cup in Japan and a US$1 million payday. The money will be split between the club (30%), Auckland's players and staff (30%), the seven other NZFC franchises (30%) and New Zealand Soccer (10%).

    YoungHeart Manawatu earlier beat Fiji's Eagles United 4-0 to finish third.

    A full summary will follow on nzsoccer.com

    OCEANIA CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

    FINAL

    Auckland City 3 (Keryn Jordan 23, 41, 63pne) AS Pirae 1. Halftime: 2-0.



    PLAYOFF FOR 3RD/4TH

    YoungHeart Manawatu 4 Eagles United 0.
     
  22. Crowdie

    Crowdie New Member

    Jan 23, 2003
    Auckland, New Zealand
    Auckland City prepare to climb mountain

    Coach Allan Jones concedes Oceania soccer champions Auckland City will face a daunting task when they head to the world club championship in Japan in December.

    City won the right to represent the region after a Keryn Jordan hat-trick helped them to a 3-1 victory over Tahiti's AS Pirae in the Oceania club final in Auckland yesterday.

    The tournament will feature the likes of European Champions League winners Barcelona, although Auckland will first have to play off against the Japanese J-League champions for a place in the main draw.

    Jones, who is leaving City to coach the New Zealand women's team, said the club would have a "mammoth mountain" to climb in Japan.

    "The standard of the J-League is exceptionally high," he said.

    "They are all fulltime professionals. They have excellent players from Europe and Brazil, and their coaching staff is of the same calibre."

    But Jones also said that tackling such challenges would only help New Zealand soccer to advance.

    "If you're going to step up, you are going to have to step up into the big time and you have to prepare and plan accordingly," he said.

    "Not just the club needs to do that, but New Zealand Soccer (NZS) will need to look at the whole structure of its domestic football."

    Jordan took his hot scoring form from the New Zealand Football Championship – where he has been the leading marksman both years that the competition has been in existence – into the Oceania final.

    He met a free kick from skipper Neil Sykes with a sweet header in the 24th minute to opening City's account at North Harbour Stadium.

    He then grabbed a second just before the break when he knocked in the rebound after goalkeeper Jonathon Torohi blocked his first shot.

    A 63rd minute penalty after Torohi brought him down completed his hat-trick.

    Pirae, who were minus three players including skipper Naea Bennett for religious reasons because the match was on a Sunday, kept battling to the end.

    They were rewarded seven minutes from fulltime when Desmond Faauiaso scored with a nicely struck left-foot shot inside the box.

    Jones said the most pleasing aspect for him was City's performance as a unit.

    "You can't say we relied on individuals," he said.

    "It was a total team performance. I thought we showed terrific understanding and terrific discipline."

    Nevertheless, he made special mention of defensive midfielder Matt Cunneen, who had been told to mark the dangerous Jose Hmae out of the game.

    "Hmae's probably the most talented player I've seen in Oceania for two or three years," Jones said.

    "All credit to our player who played against him. He did a great job to stop him playing, because if you don't stop Hmae, you don't stop Pirae."

    Jones' three-year contract with the franchise ended with the final, and he is being succeeded by former NZS director of coaching Roger Wilkinson.

    He had no regrets that, having helped City to qualify, he would not be going to Japan with them.

    "Football is all about tomorrow," he said.

    "This is now finished and I'm looking forward to working with the national women's team. Hopefully in the next two to three years we'll have similar results."

    Victory in the final was worth $US1 million ($NZ1.6 million).

    The money will be split between Auckland City (30 per cent), the club's players and staff (30 per cent), the seven other NZFC franchises (30 per cent) and NZS (10 per cent).
     

Share This Page