22 Jan 2018

Sport: Tupapa Maraerenga start strong at the OFC Qualifiers

11:42 am on 22 January 2018

Cook Islands football champions Tupapa Maraerenga have made a winning start at the OFC Champions League Qualifiers, beating Samoa's Lupe Ole Soaga 1-0 in Pago Pago.

Sean Latimer scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot in the 74th minute, less than five minutes after Lupe's Vaa Taualai was sent from the field.

Tupapa Maraerenga (front) lead after the opening round of the OFC Champions League Qualifiers.

Tupapa Maraerenga (front) lead after the opening round of the OFC Champions League Qualifiers. Photo: Oceania Football Confederation (OFC)

Tupapa Maraerenga coach Alex Napa was pleased to begin the 2018 campaign with a win.

"I think both team played extremely well, and tried to make the most of their chances, we got lucky and sometimes we need luck to be able to do this," he said.

"I think my team performed relatively well. I mean, there is room for improvement, and playing against another team give us that opportunity to take a closer look at ourselves under pressure," he added.

"It is our goal when we came here, regardless of whether it is one goal or more than one, but a win is really a good start for us."

Tonga's Veitongo FC and Pago Youth from American Samoa drew 1-1 in the other opening round match.

Veitongo FC and Pago Youth could not be separated.

Veitongo FC and Pago Youth could not be separated. Photo: Oceania Football Confederation (OFC)

The home side took the lead just before the half hour mark in stunning fashion when Nissan Silao lobbed the keeper from inside his own half.

Pago were reduced to 10 men late in the game when substitute Ruben Luvu Junior was given his marching orders for a second caution.

The one man advantage finally paid dividends for Veitongo when captain Sione Uhatahi found the back of the net in the first minute of stoppage time to earn a share of the points.

Veitongo coach Timote Moleni was disappointed and felt the game had been theirs to win.

"My team made a lot of mistakes and we really need to work hard on our finishing. We had so many chances to score a goal, but we failed to finish," he said.

The Qualifier continues on Tuesday local time with leaders Tupapa Maraerenga taking on Veitongo FC and Pago Youth up against Lupe Ole Soaga.

The top two team after the robin will advance to the OFC Champions League main draw.

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