AUCKLAND CITY3 3 AS PIRAE 1

A Keryn Jordan hat-trick sent Auckland City supporters into ecstasy tonight as the Kiwitea Street side swept past a gallant AS Pirae 3-1 amidst emotional scenes at North Harbour Stadium. City now qualify for the FIFA World Club Championships in Tokyo.

Auckland didn't have it all their way as both sides felt each other out in the opening stages. With AS Pirae's influential Naea Bennett not included it was up to gifted midfielder Jose Hmae to provide the necessary spark and invention to unlock a formidable and organized Auckland City. Hmae - the focal point of everything meaningful for the Tahitians - provided two moments of sublime skill that gave the visitors sight of goal.

The first was an inventive pass that sent Faauiaso away on a run down the left. His cross found AS Pirae players queuing up in a busy Auckland City goal box and a header flashed wide of Nicholson's far post. This suggested that Auckland's supposed aerial superiority may not be all it seemed.

However, any fears that this aspect of their game had mysteriously weakened were quickly dispelled when Auckland took the lead in the 21st minute. A swerving left footed free kick on the left hand side of the AS Pirae penalty area from Auckland City skipper Neil Sykes found Keryn Jordan unmarked in front of Jonathon Torohia. The South African striker's bulleted header from just 2 yards sent supporters and team-mates into a frenzy.

The goal gave Auckland City the impetus and shortly after Riki Van Steeden intercepted a loose pass on the left and released Grant Young into the AS Pirae penalty area. Young stalled shooting, nutmegged the defender, and before unleashing a drive that Torohia blocked. AS Pirae hacked the ball clear and survived.

Without Naea Bennett, Jose Hmae struggled to link play together, particularly with Matt Cunneen turning in a brilliant man-marking job of the talented New Caledonian. Cunneen's job was not an easy one with Hmae diligent in his work rate despite having very little area to work in. Despite this Teva Zaveroni forced another save from Nicholson in the 33rd minute and it was to be the last meaningful attempt on goal by AS Pirae until the final ten minutes as Auckland City gained a strangle-hold on the match.

AS Pirae sensed the sea-change in the match with tempers becoming frayed and unnecessary free-kicks being conceded by the Tahitians as they tried to hang on. Their situation was made more desperate when Graham Little's chipped right foot cross into the penalty area found Grant Young. Young's effort on goal was brilliantly saved by Torohia but Keryn Jordan was on hand to fire Auckland City two ahead with the AS Pirae defence torn asunder.

With Auckland City 2-0 up, AS Pirae's hopes looked over but they began the second half more promisingly with a series of fast and fluid passing moves born out of necessity. They were moves that ultimately knocked on a locked door with the Auckland City back four of Che Bunce, Jonathon Perry, James Pritchett and Riki Van Steeden providing the steel to a disciplined defensive performance.

Auckland City's ability to absorb everything thrown at them meant that on the counter-attack Grant Young and Keryn Jordan threatened to add to the tally whenever they broke forward. With a two goal cushion Auckland City were able to exert pressure from set-pieces with Graham Little's dangerous right foot inswinging corners on the left and Sykes from the left foot inswinging corners from the other side testing the Tahitians defensive integrity throughout.

That period of tactical domination by Auckland City saw Keryn Jordan complete his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 64th minute when the striker was clipped as he ran past a ragged AS Pirae rearguard with Torohia applying the fatal touch on Jordan as he sped past. The keeper received a yellow card for his troubles and Jordan finished the spot kick with aplomb as qualification appeared to be all but sealed.

As the match reached the final 10 minutes Auckland City appeared to switch off and allow Pirae back into the match with a spate of free kicks given away on the edge of the box. Zaveroni forced Nicholson into a dramatic save at his far post after the AS Pirae skipper curled a free kick around the Auckland City wall. It was an acrobatic dive by the New Zealand international to match the quality of the kick.

When AS Pirae did score, it was Zaveroni again, who laid on a through ball for Desmond Faauiaso who then slotted past Nicholson after 84 minutes to throw his side a lifeline that seemed unlikely for most of the second half. Hiroana Poroiae forced Nicholson into another fine save as AS Pirae's hopes fizzled and as the final whistle sounded there were scenes of delirium from City players and supporters alike.

Auckland City coach, Allan Jones, paid tribute to his side saying that his side's tactical awareness and discipline had won the day.

"We don't rely on individual performances. It was a terrific team performance. We're obviously delighted to have won and we'll enjoy it. But to play a J-League side Auckland City will need to prepare and plan accordingly for what will be a mighty task."

Scottish midfielder, Graham Little, was equally happy, "I am very proud, this is a dream come true. Once we were 2-0 up it was comfortable for us really"

YOUNGHEART MANAWATU 4 NOKIA EAGLES UNITED 0

Earlier in the day, Youngheart Manawatu secured 3rd place at the Oceania Club Championships at North Harbour Stadium with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Nokia Eagles.

It was a match that never rose to any great heights with the Solomon Island contingent again starring for the kiwi club.

Benji Totori led the charge with a hattrick and fellow Solomon Islander Aleck Maemae rounded out the scoring moments from the end.

The Nadi-based Eagles were content to sit back and absorb Youngheart pressure throughout much of the game without offering much going forward with the exception of the bustling Osea Vakatalesau.

Vakatalesau had a chance to level the scoreline in the first half in a moment that summarized the prevailing mood in the match. A back-pass to Youngheart custodian Jordan Buchanan's casued the keeper some distress. Under pressure from Hassan and Vakatalesau - first faked to clear, and then feinted, before unsuccessfully trying to lob the tallest player on the pitch. The ball ricocheted off Vakatalesau's forehead - who barely had a second to react - and straight into the crossbar before landing in Buchanan's grateful arms with Hassan lingering.

Eagles' best chance came late in the game, when a through ball by skipper Viliame Toma found Thomas Qoro one-on-one with goalkeeper Jordan Buchanan, but he couldn't finish.

AUCKLAND CITY TO MEET AS PIRAE IN OFC FINAL

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.

City 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.

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.

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.

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 said.

"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. Pirae 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.

AUCKLAND 9 EAGLES UNITED 1

Auckland City waltzed into the final with a 9-1 demolition of 10-man Eagles United but the lop-sided score-line concealed the initial difficultly they have in overpowering the Fijian champions.

Eagles even took a 17 minute lead when Malakai Tiwa rifled a 25m daisy-cutter past wrong-footed Auckland goalkeeper Ross Nicholson.

Captain Neil Sykes came to Auckland's rescue 20 minutes later with an equaliser when South African marksman Keryn Jordan unselfishly stepped over a great cross from countryman Grant Young to leave Sykes open.

Midfielder Paul Seaman then broke Eagles spirit with a 52nd minute goal after more outstanding lead up work from Young who would be rewarded with two goals in as many minutes just after the hour.

Substitute Graham Little capped off Auckland's dominance with a late double after Eagles had Samuela Vula red-carded for an off the ball incident in the 64th minute.

"It was tough in the first half because they knock you off the ball...it requires huge patience to play that sort of team," Auckland coach Allan Jones said afterwards.

"But once we got to 2-1 it was all over because we were always going to hold our discipline and knew they wouldn't."

Jones is "confident" heading into the final, particularly after Auckland made the most of their unexpected shooting practice following their inability to convert chances earlier in the tournament.

Pirae will be without influential captain Naea Bennett's for the 5pm final as his Mormon values means he does not play on Sundays.

2006 OFC 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) (HT: 1-1)

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

Semi Finalists found in New Zealand

Youngheart Manawatu and Auckland City remain on course to meet in Sunday's US$1 million 2006 OFC Club Championships, New Zealand final after Tuesday's group stage deciders produced a flurry of red cards and an escape act of Harry Houdini proportions.

Auckland City will play Fiji's Nokia Eagles United in the first of Friday's semifinals at North Harbour Stadium before Manawatu face Tahiti champions AS Pirae after the two kiwi teams topped their respective groups in contrasting fashion today.

Auckland City won Group A thanks to an 85th minute Graham Little winner in a 1-0 win over AS Pirae where both teams finished with nine players apiece.

Referee Ben Williams produced eight cards in total - half of them red - during the 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 Pirae 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 Coombes 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 OFC does hand down two match suspension, it would see the duo miss the final providing if Pirae were to advance to Sunday's deciding match.

A Jack Samani hat-trick helped Marist FC (Solomon Islands) to overpower Papua New Guinea's Sobou FC 7-1 and finish third in Group A.

The all-Melanesian affair started brightly with both sides attacking freely. Clifford Wate had the best chances of the opening exchanges but squandered two clear opportunities against his countrymen.

At the other end, Runa Geasa was kept busy denying Marist on several occasions before Samani opened the scoring after 31 minutes. Six minutes later Samani converted from the penalty spot to make it 2-0, and completed his hat-trick after a delightful slide-rule pass from Titto Wagiro.

Samani turned provider before the break crossing for an unmarked Abraham Iniga at the far post. No sooner had play restarted when Wate pulled a goal back for Sobou.

The match was killed nine minutes after the interval with John Wayne adding a fifth for Marist, Wagiro slammed home a sixth from close-range, and substitute Sebastian Misiga rounded off the scoring eight minutes from time.

Across town at Bill McKinlay Park, Youngheart Manawatu 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 Mermer and Hubert Nake, the latter with a brace of goals, gave the Vanuatu club a 3-0 lead by the 49th minute.

But Manawatu roared back into the clash 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.

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 said 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."

In todays other match, Nokia Eagles United lost top spot in Group B when they were upset 1-0 thanks to Albert Kaqea's 84th minute winner for AS Magenta (New Caledonia).

Results

Match Day 5 (May 16, 2006)

Group A

Auckland City 1 (Graham Little 85) AS Pirae 0 (HT 0-0)

Marist FC 7 (Jack Samani 31, 37 pen, 43; Abraham Iniga 45, John Wayne 54, Titto Wagiro 74, Sebastian Misiga 82) Sobou FC 1 (Clifford Wate 45+) (HT 4-1)

Group B

Youngheart Manawatu 3 (Commins Menapi 58, Ian Robinson 72, Benjamin Totori 89) Tafea FC 3 (Hubert Nake 23, 49; Etienne Mermer 47) (HT 0-1)

Nokia Eagles United 0 AS Magenta 1 (Albert Kaqea 84) (HT 0-0)

FIFA will determine Andre Sinedo's fate following the AS Magenta captain's ugly run-in with referee Ben Williams in Saturday's 2006 OFC Club Championship match in Auckland.

Sinedo faces a lengthy ban for slapping the Australian official after being red carded for two bookable offences late in Magenta's 3-0 loss to YoungHeart Manawatu.

The incident was reported to the tournament judicial committee and immediately referred to the Oceania Football Confederation's disciplinary committee.

However, OFC has opted to forward the case to FIFA given the "serious nature of the offence".

The world governing body will decide what, if any, punishment Sinedo faces in due course.

The New Caledonian international has written a letter of apology to OFC as have Magenta although an OFC spokesman said Sinedo's "honourable remorse" could not hide the seriousness of his actions.

Sinedo will have the opportunity to appeal any sentence firstly through FIFA then via the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Switzerland.

NEWS FLASH

2006 OFC CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS - SCHEDULE CHANGES

Auckland's wet weather has forced more ground transfers on the organisers of the 2006 OFC Club Championships.

More rain fell in Auckland in the first 12 days of May than for the entire corresponding month last year.

That has seen Tuesday's matches scheduled for North Harbour Stadium shifted to Domain 3 at the Albany complex with both kick-off times brought forward.

The Group B match between Tafea FC and YoungHeart Manawatu at Bill McKinlay Park in Mt Wellington has also been brought forward an hour to 4pm.

Manawatu need a point to secure a semifinal berth while the AS Pirae v Auckland match on Domain 3 at North Harbour Stadium will determine which side finishes top of group A.

Tuesday's revised schedule is:

North Harbour Stadium - Domain 3

1200hrs - Sobou FC (PNG) v Marist FC (SOL)

1415hrs - AS Pirae (TAH) v Auckland City (NZL)

Bill McKinley Park (Mt Wellington)

1600hrs - Tafea FC (VAN) v Youngheart Manawatu (NZL)

1930hrs - Nokia Eagles (FIJ) v AS Magenta (NCL)

EAGLES SOAR AT OFC CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS

AS Pirae seal semi final spot

Nokia Eagles United of Fiji joined Youngheart Manawatu on top of Group B at the 2006 OFC Club Championships with an emphatic 4-0 win over Vanuatu's Tafea FC at the North Harbour Stadium outer oval in Auckland.

Tahiti's AS Pirae also recorded a victory on match day 4 and secured a berth in the semi finals, accounting for Sobou FC of Papua New Guinea 7-0 as dismal weather played a further part in the championships.

With the matches moved off the 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.

The win sealed AS Pirae a semi final spot, with their clash with Auckland City FC set to decide top spot in Group A on Tuesday. 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.

YOUNGHEART MANAWATU 3 AS MAGENTA 0

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 for Manawatu will Totori again a fancy-footed creator down the right flank. 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'm pleased."

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 slapped 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 suspect knee ligament injury.

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

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 said 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 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).

AUCKLAND CITY 3 MARIST FC 1

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 said afterwards

"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.

Match Day 2 - 11 May

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)

2. Nokia Eagles United (FIJ)

3. Youngheart Manawatu (NZL)

4. AS Magenta (NCL)

YOUNGHEART MANAWATU 2 EAGLES UNITED 2

A stunning goal from Nokia Eagles United defender Marika Namaqa has seen YoungHeart Manawatu held to a draw in their 2006 OFC 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 said afterwards.

"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 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 for all clubs.