Tupapa Maraerenga and Vaivase-Tai FC have settled for a 1-1 draw at Samoa Football HQ in Apia on the second match day of OFC Men’s Champions League 2026 – Qualifying.
Kima Webb gave Tupapa Maraerenga FC the lead in the first half, but Vaivase-Tai FC produced a second half fightback to draw level – preceding a wild final five minutes that saw both sides lose a player each.
Vaivase-Tai FC had won 4-0 when the two clubs last met during the qualifying stage in 2024, but on this occasion, Tupapa Maraerenga asserted themselves from the off. The opening goal came in the 25th minute, Daniel Bunch linking with Kima Webb, who turned on his right foot and found the bottom-left corner of the net.
Bunch twice had the ball in the back of the net in the first half too, only for both goals to be ruled out – the first for offside, and the second for a foul in the build-up.
The hosts made an effort to get back in the game after the break, having been forced to soak up pressure for long stages prior.
Half-time substitute Ethan Stowers was the catalyst for Vaivase-Tai FC, opening the Tupapa Maraerenga defence with a pinpoint pass in-behind, for Jefferson Fa’amatau to round the goalkeeper and level the scores in the 58th minute.
That set up a grandstand finish in Apia, as both teams pressed high for another goal. Key Viliamu thought he’d scored the winner for Vaivase-Tai with five minutes to play, only to see the goal ruled out for controlling the ball with his hand, before departing the field for a second yellow card in a dramatic late twist.
Tupapa Maraerenga FC weren’t to escape the referee’s discipline either, Dallas Rongokea following Viliamu from the field just four minutes later, receiving a straight red card for fouling a Vaivase-Tai player as the last defender.
Both reduced to ten men, neither side was able to find a way through for the decisive goal late on and were forced to settle for a share of the points.
Tupapa Maraerenga FC: 1 (Kima WEBB 25’)
Vaivase-Tai FC: 1 (Jefferson FA’AMATAU 58’)
HT: 1-0
Earlier in the day, Pago Youth FC and Nukuhetulu FC played out a dramatic 2-2 draw to open the second match day of OFC Men’s Champions League 2026- Qualifying.
A frenetic final twenty minutes proved the highlight, Pago Youth FC twice pushing ahead, but twice conceding, as both sides finished without 11 men on the pitch and settled for a share of the points. Whilst it’s a result that leaves it difficult for either side to advance, it stands as Nukuhetulu FC’s first OFC Men’s Champions League point.
Disaster struck early for the tournament debutants when defender Tavaki Lolohea was shown a red card inside the first eight minutes for illegally halting a Pago Youth FC counterattack, reducing the Tongan side to ten men for the remainder of the match.
Despite being a man down, Nukuhetulu still created plenty of chances in a goalless first half. Tuia Falepapalangi pulled wide from close range twice, whilst Johnica Collins hit the crossbar for Pago Youth just before half-time.
The game exploded into life in the final twenty minutes, when Roy Ledoux putting Pago Youth ahead in the 71st minute following a costly error from goalkeeper Tevita Pale. It took just two minutes for Nukuehtulu to level the contest again in the 73rd minute however, Maloni Manu’olevao picking out the bottom-left corner of the net from a corner delivery, for his club’s first OFC Men’s Champions League goal.
Pago Youth restored their lead from the spot in the 85th minute, Johnica Collins scoring his second goal of the qualifying tournament.
With victory in sight, the American Samoan club lost their bearings however, losing two men of their own in the final ten minutes. First captain Ueli Tualaulelei was dismissed, followed by Ken Kerewi – both given second yellow cards.
Kerewi’s second yellow came with the double blow of conceding a penalty, which Nukuhetulu captain Unaloto Aho converted in the 90th minute to draw level again, concluding a chaotic qualifying contest.
Following Tuesday’s results, all four clubs remain in contention to qualify. Pago Youth FC will face Tupapa Maraerenga FC, whilst Nukuhetulu FC will play Vaivase-Tai FC, on the final match day of OFC Men’s Champions League 2026 – Qualifying on Friday.
Pago Youth FC: 2 (Roy LEDOUX 71’, Johnica COLLINS (P) 85’
Nukuhetulu FC: 2 (Maloni MANU’OLVEAO 73’, Unaloto AHO (P) 90’)
HT: 0-0
Photo Credit: OFC Media via Avii Faalupega