Lupe Ole Soaga SC

Lupe’s 2-0 victory over Tongan side Veitongo FC on Saturday put them in a prime position to secure one of the two spots available from the three-team Qualifying Stage.

Getting a result against Cook Islands club Tupapa will not be an easy task though and Lupe coach Paul Ualesi said his side needed to go to another level.

“We need to jell our combinations and everything,” Ualesi said. “We need to work on some of our weaknesses.”

One of those weaknesses, in the eyes of Ualesi, was in the front third of the pitch.

The Englishman has spent the past five years in New Zealand playing for a handful of different clubs and now finds himself in the middle of Lupe’s bid to qualify for the OFC Champions League 2020.

A self-confessed utility that can play anywhere on the pitch, Chant was deployed as a striker during Lupe’s opening game of the Qualifying Stage and repaid the faith with a goal in their 2-0 win over Veitongo FC in Auckland on Saturday.

Lupe Ole Soaga SC 2 Veitongo FC 0

Goals in the first half to import Matthew Chant and defender Suvai Ataga proved the difference as the Samoan side made the most of the strong wind behind them.

Lupe had a handful of chances, particularly in the opening spell, but a combination of some rusty finishing and good goalkeeping by Veitongo gloveman Sinilau Taufa ensured the scoreline remained close.