HONIARA – Auckland City FC have had just two days to acclimatise to Honiara’s stifling humidity ahead of their O-League Final against Koloale FC on Saturday but coach Paul Posa is confident  his team won’t be overcome by the conditions.

With a shot at FIFA’s Club World Cup on the line, the crucial first leg final kicks off at 3:00pm tomorrow at Lawson Tama Stadium where temperatures are expected to soar to 30 degrees. Add to that a partisan crowd of around 15,000 and the task looks increasingly difficult for Auckland.

“We’ve been very wary of the conditions and we’re doing everything we can to counter the effects they’ll have on us,” said Posa at a press conference in Honiara today. "It looks like there may be some cloud cover tomorrow so that will certainly help." 

Posa says the crowd will also play a factor, especially if Koloale get their tails up.

"The main focus will be on our defense becuse we can’t afford to let them get ahead."

Last year Waitakere United learned that lesson when they went down 1-3 in the first leg final against Solomon Island representatives Kossa FC at the same venue but the Auckland-based side bounced back to win 5-0 at home to claim their second consecutive O-League title.

Auckland City, who won the OFC Club Championship in 2006, have been too strong for Waitakere in 2009 beating the defending champions three weeks ago to finish top of Group A. But that game has proved costly after injuries sustained by midfielders Chad Coombes and Adam McGeorge have ruled them out of tomorrow’s final while Greg Uhlmann is ineligible through suspension.

Coombes, who had been a contender for the competition’s top goal scorer, will be a big loss according to Posa.

“Chad’s been a consistent performer the last 10 or 12 games he’s played straight. He’s the second most capped player for Auckland City playing over 105 games so he’s got a lot of youthful energy but with quite a lot of experience now too.”

Otherwise Posa is pleased with how the squad is looking.

“The guys are in good spirits. We had a short training session after we arrived yesterday that went really well and now we’re just looking forward to the match.”

Meanwhile Group B winners Koloale are looking forward to their first appearance in an O-League Final. Coach Luke Eroi believes the opposition’s physical strength and height are areas of concern but says the home crowd will give them the Koloaleboost they need.

“It’s important to play well in front of the fans so that will be motivation for my boys,” said Eroi. “We will try to keep the ball on the ground and use our speed up front to break through the Auckland defense.”

Both teams have everything to play for as Saturday’s first-leg final and the return clash at Auckland’s Kiwitea Street on Sunday 3 May will determine who secures Oceania’s US$500,000 playoff spot at the FIFA Club World Cup scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates 9-19 December 2009.

2009 O-LEAGUE FIRST-LEG FINAL PREVIEW

Match: Koloale FC [SOL] vs. Auckland City FC [NZL]

Date: Saturday 25 April 2009

Venue: Honiara, Solomon Islands

Stadium: Lawson Tama Stadium

Kick Off: 15h00 (Local time)

Referee: Strebe DELOVSKI [AUS] 

Assistant Referee: Michael MOUAURI [COK]

Assistant Referee: Hilary ANI [PNG]

Fourth Official: Chris BEATH [AUS]

Koloale FC: 2. Welshman HOUKARAWA, 3. Jeffrey BULE, 5. Richard ANISUA, 6. Timothy JOE, 8. Peter TALOGA, 10. Ezra SALE, 12. Oscar Sara,13. Lency SAENI, 14. Nicholas MURI, 15. Mostyn BEUI, 16. Joses NAWO, 18. Henry KOTO, 19. Henry Fa’arodo, 20. Shadrack RAMONI (GK), 21. Eddie RAMO (GK), 23. Leonard RAKOTO, 26. Kluivert DAGI, 30. Tony OTINI

Coach: Luke EROI

Auckland City: 1. John FLETCHER (GK) 2.  Jonathan RAJ, 3.Matt FRIEL, 4. Sam CAMPBELL, 5. Matt WILLIAMS, 6. Ki-Hyung LEE, 7. James PRITCHETT, 9. Paul URLOVIC, 10. Grant YOUNG, 12. Jacob SPOONLEY (GK), 13. Alex FENERIDIS, 14. Keryn JORDAN, 15. Ivan VICELICH, 16. George SURI, 21. Riki VAN STEEDEN, 22. Xavi ROCA, 23. Liam MULROONEY, 24. Milos NIKOLIC, 29. John FLETCHER [GK]

Coach: Paul POSA

Group A Standings

PL W D L GF GA GD PTS
Auckland City 4 3 1 0 15 4 +11 10
Waitakere United 4 2 1 1 9 7 +2 7
Port Vila Sharks 4 0 0 4 3 16 -13 0

Group A Results

02.11.08  Auckland City FC vs. Waitakere United    2-2

22.11.08  Waitakere United vs. Port Vila Sharks      3-0

13.12.08  Port Vila Sharks vs. Auckland City FC      0-2

14.02.09  Auckland City FC vs. Port Vila Sharks      8-1

07.03.09  Port Vila Sharks vs. Waitakere United      2-3

05.04.09  Waitakere United vs. Auckland City FC    1-3

Group B Standings 

PL W D L GF GA GD PTS
Koloale FC 4 2 1 1 4 2 +2 7
Hekari Souths FC 4 2 0 2 6 6 0 6
Ba 4 1 1 2 3 5 -2 4

Group B Results

02.11.08  Ba vs. Koloale FC                                        0-0

22.11.08  Koloale FC vs. Hekari Souths United FC      3-1

13.12.08  Hekari Souths United FC vs. Ba                  1-2

14.02.09  Ba vs. Hekari Souths United FC                  1-3

07.03.09  Hekari Souths United FC vs. Koloale FC      1-0

28.03.09  Koloale FC vs. Ba                                        1-0

2009 O-League top goal scorers:

3 – Chad COOMBES (Auckland City FC)

3 – Keryn JORDAN (Auckland City FC)

3 – Roy KRISHNA (Waitakere United)

3 – Paul SEAMAN (Waitakere United)

3 – Paul URLOVIC (Auckland City FC)

2 – Kema JACK (Hekari Souths FC)

2 – Milos NIKOLIC (Auckland City FC)

2 – ‘OG’s

2 – Nicholas MURI (Koloale FC)

2 – Osea VAKATALESAU (Ba)

2 – Christopher BALE (Waitakere United)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Priscilla Duncan

Oceania Football Confederation

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