The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) O-League match between As Manu Ura and Auckland City in Tahiti on Saturday night will have an effect on all three teams in Group A.
Auckland will be desperate for a win to stay in contention with group leaders Waitakere United who leads the table by four points. They will be wary of their Tahitian counterparts and know they can’t afford to slip up as a loss will effectively hand the group to Waitakere United.
AS Manu Ura will be looking for a repeat performance of their last home game against Waitakere when they defended well as a unit and were able to snatch a 90th minute equalizer. AS Manu Ura has also finished top of the Tahiti Division Federale for the second season in a row.
Manu Ura are in competition with Ba in Group B for wooden spoon in the O-League and will be desperate to snatch a point in their final game to jump above the Fijian champions, should they lose.
The teams that finish bottom in Group A and Group B could lose its OFC O-League status depending upon its final playing record this season.
The winner of the OFC O-League Preliminary tournament will take the place of the bottom club with the worst playing record.
Tafea FC of Vanuatu replaced AS Mont Dore of New Caledonia for this season’s OFC O-League.
Waitakere United will also be closely monitoring the action from Papeete and will be ready to start the celebrations should Manu Ura cause an upset of the NZFC champions.
Auckland will be looking toward South African duo Grant Young and Keryn Jordan to give them the start they need. Jordan is on his way back to full fitness after missing most of the NZFC season due to illness and injury and could well provide the spark that has sometimes been missing in the Auckland City attack.
The winner of the O-League will qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup – Japan 2008, and receive a lucrative payday.
The match kicks off at 20H00 local time (7pm NZT)
Please note the time difference crosses the international date line.
|
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
Pts |
GD |
| Waitakere Utd (NZL) |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
7 |
2 |
| Auckland City (NZL) |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
| AS Manu Ura (TAH) |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
9 |
1 |
-7 |
OFC O-LEAGUE
GROUP A
AS MANU URA (TAH) vs. AUCKLAND CITY (NZL)
STADE PAEA
PAPEETE
TAHITI
Kick Off: 20H00 local time (1900 NZT)
URA: 1. Jonathan TOROHIA; 2. Rex FAURA; 4. Jean-Yves LY WAUT; 5. Philippe MORETTA; 6. Tamatoa TAUIHARA; 7. Henri TAPEA; 9. Nohoarii ROBSON; 10. Auguste WASHETINE; 11. Hiashi KAKE; 12. Hiroana POROIAE; 13. Taia HONG; 14. Stephane TUAIRAU; 16. Daniel TAPETA; 17. Adrien TAERO; 18. Dave PENI; 20. Billy MATAITAI; 22. Temarama TAUIHARA; 23. Jean Paul FAURA;
Coach: Teivitau PITO (TAH)
AKL: 2. Joel MATTHEWS; 3. Craig WYLIE; 5. Ben SIGMUND; 6. Ki-Hyung LEE; 7. James PRITCHETT; 8. Chad COOMBES; 9. Paul URLOVIC; 10. Grant YOUNG; 12. Tamati WILLIAMS; 13. Alex FENERIDIS; 14. Keryn JORDAN; 15. Jeff CAMPBELL; 16. George SURI; 19. Salesh KUMAR
Coach: Colin TUAA (NZL)