Tahiti in penalty shoot out heartache

In a match that finished 6-6 after regular time, then 7-7 after extra-time, the over-achieving host nation can be proud of its tournament.Expected to be swatted aside with some degree of comfort by Brazil, Tahiti started the better of the two sides when Raimana Li Fung Kuee got the hosts off to the perfect start…

Auckland City dominated the first half of an intense pre-season friendly at a jam-packed Kiwitea Street with three superb saves by Phoenix keeper Jacob Spoonley denying his former team-mates the lead.Wellington Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick has endured an at times disjointed pre-season campaign with players missing on international duty or injured but conceded Auckland City…

In what has been one of the most memorable World Cup campaigns of any Oceania side to date the hosts were slowly undone by the experienced Russians who took the game 5-3.Despite their pedigree the result was never assured for the Europeans who were forced to come from behind by a Tahitian side determined to…

It was their first defense of the Division 1 FFAS National Cup after taking it away from the Tafuna Jets, 2-1, on September 21. In the other game played on Sept. 25, the Jets beat Pago Youth B 6-1.On September 24 Pago A won against Utulei Youth 5-1 while Lion Heart beat Black Roses 3-1.SKBC’s…

Current cup holders and defending champions Black Roses are No. 2 in the standings and will take on No. 3 Kiwi Soccers in one semi-final while the other features No. 1 Utulei Youth vs. No. 4 Tafuna Jets.Both games kick off at 8:30 a.m. with the winners advancing to the championship match scheduled for 10:30…

The four-team tournament takes place in Pago Pago, American Samoa, from October 15-19, 2013.The host nation is represented by Pago Youth who make their second appearance on the Oceania preliminary stage and looking to improve on last season’s fourth place finish in Tonga.OFC Head of Competitions David Firisua expressed pride ahead of the tournament.“We’re proud…

Now, as a FIFA/OFC Beach Soccer Seminar gets underway in Papeete today, those countries are being offered the tools they need to start following in the footsteps of the inspirational World beaters.OFC beach soccer and futsal development officer Paul Toohey says the objectives of the seminar are simple.“We will start with the history of the…

The hopes of a nation were dashed overnight as the Solomon Islands were beaten 7-6 in a thrilling showdown with El Salvador which sent the Bilikiki crashing out of the Beach Soccer extravaganza in Papeete.“We believed that we could beat El Salvador, we hoped to win but unfortunately we lost. We have to get behind…