AS Pirae have claimed the Ligue 1 title in Tahiti.
The 2020/2021 season endured a long stoppage due to COVID-19 but the champions were crowned following a 1-1 draw with AS Vénus last week.
Having gone through the round-robin phase of the competition as the top qualifiers, Pirae only needed a draw from their Play-off fixture with AS Vénus to secure the title.
Vénus were ahead 1-0 in the pivotal match but Roonui Tinirauarii grabbed the equalisier in the 75th minute, which proved crucial.
The result left Vénus in second for the competition, while in the weekend’s other fixtures Dragon held on to third place despite losing 6-4 to the fifth-placed Pueu, and Tefana claimed fourth courtesy of a 4-1 win over Tiare Tahiti who ended the Play-off component in sixth. Central Sport, who had the bye last week, were seventh.
There are more matches to be played in the relegation division in the coming weeks to decide who will drop down for next season.
On Sunday, the semi-finals of Tahiti’s national women’s knockout cup took place with Dragon defeating Mira 4-1, while Pirae beat Tefana 3-0.
That leaves Dragon and Pirae to meet in the President’s Cup final.
Catch the latest from the week in Tahiti football, including highlights of the match between Pirae and Vénus in the video below. Please note this is a French language video.
New Zealand’s National League continued during the weekend as Auckland City FC carried on their dominance in the Northern League.
City beat Bay Olympic 7-0 on Saturday and they own a 10-point lead at the top of the table after 12 rounds.
Auckland United FC held on to second place, despite going down 2-0 to Eastern Suburbs AFC who moved into third.
The Hamilton Wanderers slipped to fourth after they were held to a 1-1 draw by North Shore United AFC, while in other fixtures, Birkenhead United and the Northern Rovers also drew 1-1, Melville United edged Manukau United 1-0, and the West Coast Rangers topped Western Springs 2-1.
In the Central League, the Miramar Rangers returned to the top of the table after a 4-1 win over Waterside Karori.
Wellington Olympic suffered their first defeat of the season as they went down 3-2 to North Wellington, which allowed Miramar to leapfrog them.
In the league’s other matches, Lower Hutt kept their strong season rolling with a 4-1 win over Western Suburbs, Wairarapa United moved to fourth with a 1-0 victory over Petone, and the Napier City Rovers eased past Wainuiomata 5-0.
For points tables and further information about New Zealand’s National League click here.
In Tonga, 73 teams – 33 girls and 40 boys – from 18 secondary schools have converged in Nuku’alofa for their national secondary schools competition.
The Tonga Football Association is also edging closer to picking their senior national women’s side that will build towards the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 qualifying matches.
New Caledonia Super Ligue leaders Hienghène Sport had the bye during the weekend but Tiga Sport remained in second place with a 5-2 win over AS Kunie on Saturday.
Qanono Sport are in third following their 2-1 victory over RC Poindimié, while SC Ne Drehu are fourth after squeezing past AS Monte-Dore 1-0.
AS Magenta upset AS Lössi 1-0, JS Baco and Horizon Patho drew 2-2, and AS Wetr hammered Dumbéa FC 7-1.
The Solomon Islands Football Federation has confirmed the pools for the Youth Solomon Cup for U-16s that will take place in Honiara from June 26 to July 10.
Group A will feature Guadalcanal, Choiseul, Temotu, Makira Ulawa, and Renbel. Group B is made up of Western, Honiara, Central Islands, Isabel, and Malaita.
In Samoa’s men’s National League, the top-of-the-table Vaipuna continued their dominant start to the season with an 8-1 win over Faatoia United last week, while defending champions Lupe Ole Soaga SC romped past Moata’a FC 16-0.
In other round four fixtures, Vaitele-Uta drew 1-1 with Lion of Judah, Kiwi defeated Sogi SC 3-2, Vaivase smashed Togafuafua 6-0, and Vaiusu got the better of USP 1-0.
The women’s competition has seen Kiwi and Lupe Ole Soaga make dominant starts to the season. Kiwi beat Vaivase 21-0 in round four, while Lupe defeated Faatoia 1-0.
Across the league, LFC beat Sogi 3-0, Lotopa and Saleimoa battled to a 0-0 draw, Vaipuna breezed past Adidas SC 4-1, and Faleasiu were too strong for Moata’a as they won 8-1.
The Cook Islands Football Association recently sent football equipment to the northern islands, including Pukapuka.
Football remains on hold in Fiji due to COVID-19 but the Fiji Football Association has continued to roll out food parcels for players who have been impacted by recent events in the country.
Check out their Facebook page for more photos and videos of their food ration distribution.
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