OFC – ALL NZ FINAL ON CARDS AFTER LATE OFC DRAMA

Semi Finalists found in New Zealand Youngheart Manawatu and Auckland City remain on course to meet in Sunday’s US$1 million 2006 OFC Club Championships, New Zealand final after Tuesday’s group stage deciders produced a flurry of red cards and an escape act of Harry Houdini proportions. Auckland City will play Fiji’s Nokia Eagles United in…

YOUNGHEART MANAWATU 3 AS MAGENTA 0 Manawatu, like Auckland City in their semifinal sealing 3-1 win over Marist FC (Solomon Islands) in the early match today, were unable to capitalise on numerous chances as Magenta’s attempt to play the offside trap failed miserably. Commins Menapi gave Manawatu the lead in the 22nd minute when he…

AUCKLAND CITY 3 MARIST FC 1 Auckland City became the first semifinalist at the Oceania Club Championship in Albany after outlasting Marist FC on soggy North Harbour Stadium on Saturday. Goals from All Whites striker Paul Urlovic and Grant Young gave the repeat New Zealand Football Championship winners a 2-0 halftime lead over the Solomon…

YOUNGHEART MANAWATU 2 EAGLES UNITED 2 A stunning goal from Nokia Eagles United defender Marika Namaqa has seen YoungHeart Manawatu held to a draw in their 2006 OFC Club Championship opener in Albany. Namaqa rifled a 35-metre, right-footed rocket past cast Manawatu goalkeeper Hayden Englefield to earn the Fijian champions a 2-2 draw at North…

TAFEA FC 1 AS MAGENTA 0 Fedy Vava snatched a stoppage-time winner for Tafea FC in the Vanuatu champion’s 2006 OFC Club Championship opener against AS Magenta on Thursday night (NZ time). The dreadlocked defender deflected a free-kick into the net deep into injury time at North Harbour Stadium to seal a 1-0 win for…

AS PIRAE 10 MARIST FC 1 AS Pirae captain Naea Bennett staked an early claim for the golden boot title as the Tahitian champions declared their semifinal candidacy in emphatic style. Bennett was on target four times in Pirae’s 10-1 humbling of Solomon Islands champions Marist FC in the tournament opener at North Harbour Stadium….

AUCKLAND CITY FC 7 SOBOU FC0 Auckland City pulverized Papua New Guinea’s Sobou FC only to be overshadowed by Tahiti champions AS Pirae on the opening night of the 2006 Oceania Club Championship at Albany on Wednesday. The New Zealand Football Championship winners more than played their part in the opening night goal feast with…

On a beautiful April day in the Russian capital, the draw for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Championship Russia 2006 was held in the sumptuous surroundings of Moscow’s Town Hall. New Zealand has been drawn in Group A featuring the hosts Russia, powerhouse Brazil, and neighbours Australia. Kiwi coach John Herdman was all smiles as…

SIFF president Martin Alufurai says football can play a major part in promoting peace and stability in Solomon Islands, in the wake of recent events in the Melanesian country. He says there is great need to contain the youths by involving them in organized activities such football leagues thus minimizing their likelihood to involve in…

New Zealand All Whites coach Ricki Herbert has drafted five familiar faces into his 19-man squad to play Chile in the whistlestop tour, fullbacks David Mulligan and Tony Lochhead, central defender Che Bunce and midfielders Raf De Gregorio and Kris Bouckenooghe come in for the friendly internationals against Chile on April 25 and 27 after…