TAHITI – Eleven goals, an upset for the defending champions and a rude awakening for the Championnat D1 newcomers summarised the first three matches of Tahiti’s elite football competition at the weekend.
AS Dragon and AS Tefana shared top spot after crushing victories over TAC and AS Vaiete.
AS Pirae joined them after an upset 2-1 win over two-times defending champions AS Manu Ura to leave a fascinating array of possibilities with just two matches left to complete the opening round.
JT and Excelsior meet later today with Tamarii Faaa ready to test Lionel Charbonnier’s Tahiti U-20 selection in what promises to be an exciting match.
www.oceaniafootball.com and www.ftf.pf is pleased to bring you all the goals and action from the Championnat D1’s opening day.
DRAGON BREATHES FIRE ON OPENING DAY
AS Dragon (2) 4 (Dubois, Araneda, Li Fung Kuee, Arai)
TAC (0) 0
AS Dragon has breathed fire on the opening day of the Championnat D1 engulfing a hapless AS TAC 4-0 thanks to goals from Jeremy Dubois, Estay Araneda, Raimana Li Fung Kuee and Eizo Arai.
Dragon coach Jean-Claude Lucas was delighted with the comprehensive victory which rarely looked in doubt after Dubois scored from the penalty spot after just 6 minutes.
The lead was extended on 30 minutes after Estay Araneda’s astute lob left the TAC keeper hopelessly lost. With Dragon two goals to the good, TAC’s began to lose its shape in the final ten minutes of the first half and Lucas’s men could easily have added to their tally with Li Fung Kuee, Dubois and Bennett causing problems.
TAC defended better in the second half but could not prevent Li Fung Kuee making it 3-0 on 60 minutes. Dragon’s overall physical conditioning left TAC gasping for breath. Rene Maruoi could’ve made it 4-0 on 85 minutes but his effort hit the upright.
With time almost up AS Dragon’s Eizo Arai completed the rout with a tidy fourth goal.
TAC look in trouble already with coach Luc Fraccalaglio sorely missing Teva Zaveroni. Zaveroni has suffered a serious groin injury and is out of contention for up to sixteen weeks. The absence of key youth players to the Tahiti U-20 selection also competing in Championnat D1 has hurt TAC even further.
Jean-Claude Lucas said the victory was testimony to the team’s camaraderie and fitness and provided the perfect start to the season with many difficult challenges still to be faced.
TEFANA TOO STRONG FOR VAIETE
AS Tefana (1) 4 (Angelo Tchen 2, Tauraa Marmouyet, Taufer Neuffer)
AS Vaiete (0) 0
A goal after just 50 seconds from Angelo Tchen set AS Tefana on its winning way against Championnat D1 newcomers AS Vaiete as the Coupe de Polynesie holders cruised to a 4-0 win.
Vaiete – who won promotion from D2 based on an opening and attacking philosophy – adopted the same approach with Tefana but found the way blocked by a solid defensive rearguard.
AS Tefana goalkeeper Xavier Samin was in excellent form and made crucial saves from rare Vaiete attacks that penetrated beyond the back four.
19-year-old Vaiete goalkeeper Utato Mamatui turned in a good display for his team against experienced opponents.
Tauraa Marmouyet fired Tefana further ahead on 60 minutes with young Mamatui beaten.
Not managing to mark on an action of play, the training of Laurent Heinis answers present on the stopped kicks.
Taufa Neuffer added another goal for Tefana on 73 minutes when he swept home from close range. Angelo Tchen scored his second and Tefana’s fourth goal with Mamatui again let down by a disintegrating defence.
The most notable feature of the match for Vaiete will be its return to the Championnat D1 ranks and elite football.
But based on this unremarkable performance, they have much to improve upon if they wish to remain there.
PIRAE DOWN CHAMPIONS THANKS TO BENNETT, WILLIAMS
AS Manu Ura (0) 1(Washetine)
AS Pirae (1) 2 (Williams, Bennett)
It might be too optimistic to suggest AS Pirae’s 2-1 opening day victory over two-time defending champion and Trophee des Champion holders AS Manu Ura is a portent of a potential championship winning season for “Les Oranges”.
That won’t however prevent AS Pirae fans from enjoying what was no doubt a nostalgic return to better days in Championnat D1 courtesy of a virtuoso performance from the talismanic midfielder Naea Bennett.
For Manu Ura, victory on penalties over AS Tefana and now a deflating 1-2 loss to Pirae, is hardly suggestive of form likely to indicate brighter things in the Coupe de DOM-TOM or Championnat D1.
Reinforcements are already on their way. AS Dragon player Jean-Victor Tinorua and Wallen Teiri of AS Vairao will join AS Manu Ura to help bolster Tahiti’s top team for an historic push for three-in-a-row.
That target appeared a far away dream for Manu Ura when after two minutes a Hiro Labaste cross found Axel Williams who finished with aplomb in the bottom left hand corner of Daniel Tapeta’s net.
This threw Manu Ura into disarray for the next fifteen minutes as Pirae’s confidence soared. Williams had another chance to double the lead on 30 minutes but his header went safely into the grateful hands of Tapeta.
Tahitian international striker Billy Mataitai went close to pulling one back for AS Manu Ura just before halftime but his effort shaved the woodwork.
On 70 minutes, Tapeta saved twice, first from Bennett, then from Kaurani Voirin, to keep the champions in the match. Tapeta’s efforts only delayed the inevitable when on 80 minutes Naea Bennett received a pass in the Manu Ura half, evaded the defence, before slotting home Pirae’s second goal.
Pirae fans could be forgiven for believing it was a return to the halcyon days for this grand club, but that momentary bubble of nostalgia was burst when Jean-Francois Kabeu sent Auguste Washetine clear to pull one back for AS Manu Ura on 82 minutes.
It set up a nervous finish for AS Pirae who can thank Stephan Tuairau for hooking another Washetine effort off the line near the end.