A last-minute strike from substitute Jean-Yves Saiko guided AS Tiga Sport to a narrow Men’s Champions League opening match victory over AS Vénus at Churchill Park in Lautoka, Fiji, the team from New Caledonia claiming the points with a 1-0 success.

A tentative start from both teams saw a lack of real opportunities inside the opening twenty minutes of the contest. AS Tiga Sport did have the ball in the net in the 17th minute, Yannick Ipunesso blasting home from the top of the box, only for his effort to be disallowed for a foul in the build-up, to little complaint.

Shortly afterwards AS Vénus’ Keahinui Brown stung the palms of the New Caledonian club’s goalkeeper, Thomas Schmidt, with a fierce drive from an acute angle, Tiga Sport scrambling away the resultant loose ball.

With both midfield units closing any space, and both defensive line-ups conducting an understandable safety-first approach, there was little to set the pulses racing in the opening forty-five minutes. AS Vénus’ Manuarii Shan seeing his direct free kick punched away to safety by Schmidt in one of the few presentable chances for either side.

By contrast the first quarter-of-an-hour of the second half saw AS Vénus on the front foot, creating an opportunity for Germain Haewegene just three minutes post the restart. Unfortunately, the forward could only get a tame toe on a through ball to divert it at Schmidt.

On the hour a superbly flighted corner from Mana Teniau was met by the forehead of Kevin Barbe, but the defender was unable to get above the ball sufficiently to direct his header on target. Shortly after, Mathis Lacan tip-toed his way through three AS Tiga Sport challengers only for his shot at goal to be deflected wide for a corner.

AS Tiga Sport responded with a vicious free kick from Shane Welepane that was punched up onto the crossbar by AS Vénus’ stopper Tetahio Teriinohopuaiterai who also reacted fastest to smother the rebound as striker Willy Read sought to force the loose ball over the line.

Both teams made changes seeking to make the all-important breakthrough and it was an AS Tiga Sport substitute who did just that in the 89th minute. Jythrim Upa was given too much space on the right flank to pick out a cross which was met by a perfect diving header from Saiko that flew past Teriinohopuaiterai to seal the win.

STATISTICS 

Monday 10 August 2026

Group A

AS Vénus 0

AS Tiga Sport 1 (Jean-Yves SAIKO 89’)

Photos: OFC Media via Phototek