NOUMEA – The championship credentials of AS Mont Dore and JS Baco will be firmly in the spotlight at Stade Pomemie as the pursuit of runaway Super Ligue leaders AS Magenta continues
this Saturday in Noumea.
So far the Nouvelles Caledoniennes Super Ligue has been a one horse race with AS Magenta accelerating away from the rest of the field thanks to the red hot form of international
striker Michel Hmae.
A victory for JS Baco would not be the end of AS Mont Dore’s interest in the play-offs but would open up a four point gap between second and third place that would be difficult to
close with big matches against AS Magenta and AS Temala looming large in the coming weeks.
The gravity of this weekend’s assignment will not be lost on the JS Baco squad with AS Magenta likely to repeat their 2-0 success over AS Thio Sport achieved during the opening weeks
of the 2007-08 season.
The Baco squad has punched above its weight so far with goals shared amongst a hard-working squad featuring New Caledonia international Robert Wayaridri and they will need to sharpen
up their act in front of goal if they are to improve upon their 0-0 draw in the first round of matches this season.
AS Magenta will be hoping to shake off festive cobwebs with more of the ominious form they displayed throughout late 2007. Michel Hmae, Pablo Paul Lopez and Noel Kaudre have managed
nineteen Super Ligue goals amongst them so far with Hmae taking his domestic form into the international arena with goals in New Caledonia’s 2008 OFC Nations Cup/2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa
Qualifier matches.
AS Temala and AS Lossi meet in a fascinating clash at Stade Pomemie with the Coupe de Nouvelles Caledoniennes holders very much in the fight for top honours. AS Lossi’s ability to
find the back of the net is undisputed with Luther Wahnyamalla, Jean Marc Hmaloko and New Caledonia U20 international striker Richard Sele sharing sixteen Super Ligue goals between them.
AS Lossi’s early season defensive problem appears to be solved with the defence shored up since the three defeats in the opening four weeks of the season seemed to cripple their
minor premiership campaign.
Fifth-placed AS Temala will want to steal a point from AS Lossi but its own playoff hopes are fading fast with a massive nine point gap suggesting the end of the road could be near.
Relegation will be far from AS Temala’s thoughts at this stage with ACB Poya and AS Thio Sport both struggling for victories.
FC Gaitcha remain two points behind AS Temala but also find goals difficult to come by although they can point to impressive wins over AS Temala and ACB Poya as proof they cannot be
taken lightly.
FCF SUPER LIGUE FIXTURES
1400hrs AS TEMALA vs. AS LOSSI Stade Pomemie 12/01/08
1400hrs AS MAGENTA vs. AS THIO SPORT Stade Numa Daly 12/01/08
1600hrs FC GAITCHA vs. ACB POYA Stade Numa Daly 12/01/08
1600hrs JS BACO vs. AS MONT DORE Stade Pomemie 12/01/08
* All times New Caledonia local time
FCF SUPER LIGUE TABLE
– Standings 09.01.08
|
|
|
PL.
|
W.
|
D.
|
L.
|
GF.
|
GA.
|
PTS.
|
GD.
|
|
1.
|
AS Magenta
|
9
|
8
|
1
|
0
|
34
|
11
|
34
|
+23
|
|
2.
|
JS Baco
|
9
|
6
|
2
|
1
|
24
|
12
|
29
|
+12
|
|
3.
|
AS Mont Dore
|
9
|
6
|
1
|
2
|
21
|
15
|
28
|
+ 6
|
|
4.
|
AS Lossi
|
9
|
6
|
0
|
3
|
31
|
17
|
27
|
+14
|
|
5.
|
AS Temala
|
9
|
3
|
0
|
6
|
17
|
24
|
18
|
– 7
|
|
6.
|
FC Gaitcha
|
9
|
2
|
1
|
6
|
13
|
27
|
16
|
-14
|
|
7.
|
AS Thio Sport
|
9
|
1
|
1
|
7
|
16
|
24
|
13
|
– 8
|
|
8.
|
ACB Poya
|
9
|
1
|
0
|
8
|
7
|
33
|
12
|
-26
|