OFC O-LEAGUE TALE OF THE TAPE

HONIARA - Kossa FC will face an O-League acid test when it attempts to become the first Solomon Islands football club to defeat a New Zealand side in tomorrow's OFC O-League Final 1st Leg at Lawson Tama Stadium. The previous best result a Solomon Islands club champion has ever achieved against a New Zealand team was a 1-1 draw between Laugu United and Napier City Rovers back in 2001. Just days later Wollongong Wolves dismantled Laugu United 10-0 with Napier suffering a 1-0 defeat to its Aussie rivals.

Malaita Eagles went close to an upset against South Melbourne in 1999 before succumbing to a 2-1 defeat against the eventual OFC Club Championship winners. New Zealand clubs have traditionally performed well against their Solomon Islands counterparts: in 2006 Auckland City FC defeated Marist FC 3-1 at North Harbour Stadium en route to the FIFA Club World Cup - Japan 2006.

The tale of the tape below illustrates the challenge that lies ahead for both clubs - Kossa FC already progressing the furtherest of any previous Solomon Islands club already; Waitakere United to retain its OFC O-League title and add it to its first NZFC title.

SOLOMON ISLANDS CLUB CHAMPIONS RECORD IN OFC COMPETITION

2008 OFC O-LEAGUE

Kossa FC vs. Ba (FIJ) 2-0

Kossa FC vs. Ba (FIJ) 4-2

Kossa FC vs. Tafea FC (VAN) 1-1

Kossa FC vs. Tafea FC (VAN) 1-1

2007 OFC O-LEAGUE

Marist FC vs. Ba (FIJ) 0-2

Marist FC vs. Ba (FIJ) 2-3

Marist FC vs. AS Temanava (TAH) 1-2

Marist FC vs. AS Temanava (TAH) 2-0

Eliminated at Group stage

OFC CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP - NEW ZEALAND 2006

Marist FC vs. AS Pirae (TAH) 1-10

Marist FC vs. Auckland City FC (NZL) 1-3

Marist FC vs.Sobou FC (PNG) 7-1

Eliminated at Group stage

OFC CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP - TAHITI 2005

Makuru FC vs. Ba (FIJ) 4-1

Makuru FC vs Ba (FIJ) 4-1

Makuru FC vs Tafea FC (VAN) 2-3

Makuru FC vs AS Manu Ura (TAH) 2-1

Makuru FC vs AS Magenta (NCL) 0-5

Eliminated at Group stage

OFC CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP - PAPUA NEW GUINEA 2001

Laugu United vs. Labasa (FIJ) 3-1

Laugu United vs. Napier City Rovers (NZL) 1-1

Laugu United vs. Wollongong Wolves (AUS) 0-10

Laugu United vs. SC Lotoha'apei (TON) 7-0

Laugu United vs. Unitech FC (PNG) 8-2

Eliminated at Group stage

OFC CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP - FIJI 1999 

Malaita Eagles vs. Konica (ASA) 14-2

Malaita Eagles vs. South Melbourne (AUS) 1-2

Eliminated at Group stage

TOTAL RECORD (SOLOMON ISLANDS CLUBS)

NEW ZEALAND CLUB RECORD

2008 OFC O-LEAGUE

Waitakere United vs. Auckland City FC (NZL) 1-0

Waitakere United vs. Auckland City FC (NZL) 1-1

Auckland City FC vs. AS Manu Ura (TAH) 6-0

Auckland City FC vs. AS Manu Ura (TAH) 1-0

Waitakere United vs. AS Manu Ura (TAH) 2-1

Waitakere United vs. AS Manu Ura (TAH) 1-1

2007 OFC O-LEAGUE

Waitakere United vs. Auckland City FC (NZL) 2-2

Waitakere United vs. Auckland City FC (NZL) 2-2

Auckland City FC vs. AS Mont Dore (NCL) 4-0

Auckland City FC vs. AS Mont Dore (NCL) 2-0

Waitakere United vs. AS Mont Dore (NCL) 6-1

Waitakere United vs. AS Mont Dore (NCL) 4-0

Waitakere United vs. Ba (FIJ) 1-2

Waitakere United vs. Ba (FIJ) 1-0

Winners

OFC CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP - NEW ZEALAND 2006

Auckland City FC vs. Sobou FC (PNG) 7-0

Auckland City FC vs. Marist FC (SOL) 3-1

Auckland City FC vs. AS Pirae (TAH) 1-0

Auckland City FC vs. Nokia Eagles (FIJ) 9-1

Auckland City FC vs. AS Pirae (TAH) 3-1

Winners

OFC CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP - TAHITI 2005

Auckland City FC vs. Sydney FC (AUS) 2-3

Auckland City FC vs. AS Pirae (TAH) 0-1

Auckland City FC vs. Sobou FC (PNG) 6-1

Elminated at Group stage

OFC CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP - PAPUA NEW GUINEA 2001

Napier City Rovers vs. Unitech FC (PNG) 2-0

Napier City Rovers vs. Laugu United (SOL) 1-1

Napier City Rovers vs. SC Lotoha'apei (TON) 9-0

Napier City Rovers vs. Labasa (FIJ) 4-0

Napier City Rovers vs. Wollongong Wolves (AUS) 0-1

Napier City Rovers vs. Tafea FC (VAN) 2-4

Napier City Rovers vs. AS Venus (TAH) 3-2

3rd place finish

OFC CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP - FIJI 1999

Central United vs. SC Lotoha'apei (TON) 10-0

Central United vs. Tafea FC (VAN) 2-2

Central United vs. Nadi (FIJ) 0-1

Eliminated at semi-final stage

NEW ZEALAND CLUB  RECORD IN OFC COMPETITION