Hekari Women FC have scored three late goals to defeat 10-man Ba Women FC 3-1 in Group A at OFC Women’s Champions League 2026.
Narieta Leba gave the Fijian side the lead in the first half at the National Stadium in Honiara, but a red card in second half stoppage time opened the floodgates as Hekari Women flipped the contest to claim a crucial three points.
Hekari Women FC won 6-1 when the two sides met in the semi-finals of OFC Women’s Champions League 2025 last year in Tahiti, but were forced to work much harder for victory here. Ericsson Komeng made four changes, reintroducing four of his big guns to the Hekari starting line-up, including Ramona Padio and Nenny Elipas, and they started a lot quicker than they had in their opening Group A encounter three days earlier.
Ba Women goalkeeper Mereseini Waqali was forced into two fingertip stops in the space of 90 seconds, first denying Michaelyne Butubu, and then Adi Litia Bakaniceva. Padio also struck the crossbar with a header from the resulting corner.
Padio directed another free header wide soon after, whilst Nenny Elipas shanked an effort over the top after running in-behind, as Hekari continued to catch out their opponents with speed up front and in transition.
It was therefore against the run of play when Ba Women opened the scoring in the 33rd minute. They were lucky to still be level but had Narieta Leba to thank when she beat Anashtasia Gunemba to a searching pass in-behind, and powered home a shot that Betty Sam couldn’t keep out, for her second goal of the tournament.
Hekari Women had fashioned most of the chances, but Ba only needed one to hit the front and take the lead into half-time.
The three-time former runners-up continued to dictate possession and territory in the second half but struggled to create the same chances they had in the first against a more organised Ba defence. Scrambling for options, Komeng made the decision to take off two of his key players, Padio and captain Marie Kaipu, in favour of fresh legs.
It was one of those substitutes brought on that provided the equaliser for Hekari Women, albeit in scrappy circumstances. Ba Women goalkeeper Waqali failed to deal with a routine delivery into the box from Elipas, and Fijian international Maria Veronika was on hand to slot home from close range in the 71st minute.
A second yellow card for Sereana Naweni in the second minute of second half stoppage-time proved the key moment in the game though, reducing Ba Women to ten players from which they finally caved under the pressure.
Nenny Elipas scored the crucial go-ahead goal for Hekari in the 95th minute, pouncing on a rebounded shot from Calista Maneo, before Phylis Pala made sure of the three points with the third goal two minutes later.
Victory propels Hekari Women FC to the top of Group A with four points from their two matches, above Ba Women FC on three. Hekari face Henderson Eels FC in their last group game on Saturday, whilst Ba Women FC will take on Tafea FC, with semi-final places still up for grabs.
Hekari Women FC: 3 (Maria VERONIKA 71’, Nenny Elipas 90+5′, Phylis PALA 90+7′)
Ba Women FC: 1 (Narieta LEBA 33’)
HT: 0-1
Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek