Puaikura FC have secured their spot at OFC Women’s Champions League 2026 with a 3-0 victory over PanSa FC on home soil at the CIFA Academy in the Cook Islands.
Coming into the fixture off the back of a 2-0 win over Nukuhetulu FC in their first game, two of Puaikura’s three goals came in the first half, as they took maximum points from their two fixtures to claim the competition’s sole qualifying spot.
Qualification means they’ll join two-time defending champions Auckland United FC of New Zealand and Drehu Athletico Club of New Caledonia in Group B of OFC Women’s Champions Lague 2026 in the Solomon Islands.
With the stakes high, tensions boiled over early. A scuffle off the ball saw Tearoa Rouru for Puaikura FC, and both Olea Tofaeono and captain Angela Ah Fook, dismissed from the contest in the 23rd minute with red cards.
Puaikura asserted themselves from there on in with a player-advantage, scoring two goals before the half-time break to all but confirm victory.
Penina Katuke ran onto a free-kick delivery over the top of the PanSa defence to open the scoring in the 26th minute, before Victoria Fatiaki caught goalkeeper Rayxena Foma’i off her line to double their advantage just before the break.
Despite having only nine players left on the field, PanSa did well to frustrate Puaikura for much of the second half. Foma’i did well to turn Te Upoko Tuariki’s long-range effort onto the crossbar, before stopping Katuke on the rebound.
The third and final goal for the home side eventually arrived in the 79th minuute, Kaylenna Kermoda catching Foma’i off her line for a second time in the match to seal victory.
Puaikura FC can now start planning for the start of OFC Women’s Champions League 2026 in the Solomon Islands in June, whilst PanSa FC will hope to finish their campaign on a high when they face Nukuhetulu FC in the final match of the qualification tournament on Monday.
Puaikura FC: 3 (Penina KATUKE 26’, Victoria FATIAKI 45’, Kayleena KERMODE 79′)
PanSa FC: 0
HT: 2-0
Photo credit: OFC Media via Jaiah Arai