Lupe Ole Soaga

Lupe were pipped 1-0 by Cook Islands champs Tupapa Maraerega in Pago Pago at the weekend and are currently bottom of the four-team qualifying event, from which two will advance to the OFC Champions League main draw.

Vaa Taualai was sent off five minutes before Tupapa scored the only goal of the match and Paul Ualesi said cool heads must prevail in today's crunch match against American Samoa's Pago Youth.

Lupe Ole Soaga have been one of the best performing teams to have come through qualifier and their fighting spirit is a large part of that success.

However, on this occasion Madang proved they wanted it just that little bit more.

“It showed on the field that the boys wanted it more than our brothers from the other side,” Madang coach Francis Moyap said.

“It was a must for us to win this game because like we said, we are going to be competitive here and that’s what we did tonight.”

Puaikura opened the day’s action at Loto-Tonga Soka Centre in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, securing their place at the top of the table with a 3-1 win against Utulei Youth.

The match started slow, not seeing a goal until additional time in the first half when Pekay Edwards put his side ahead after  getting his toe to the ball in a period of scrappy play in the Utulei Youth penalty box.

Ataga is the only player in the competition to score against table leaders Puaikura FC, closing the goal margin in the second half of their 2-1 loss to the Cook Islands champions on Tuesday.

“I tried my best to get a goal in that game because I really wanted the win. I wanted to get a goal for my family, and for Samoa,” he said.

RNZ reports the Tongan and Samoan club champions are tied for second place in the Qualifier standings, three points behind Puaikura FC from the Cook Islands, who have already confirmed their place in the next stage.

Lupe only need a draw against Veitongo to advance, thanks to a superior goal differential, while the hosts need all three points.

Player-coach Kilifi Uele said that means they will have to go all out.

While Veitongo’s 3-1 win over Utulei Youth at Loto-Tonga Soka Centre sees them come into contention as they slot into the table just behind the Samoan club champions on goal difference.

Puaikura FC were the first to open scoring in this afternoon’s opener against Lupe Ole Soaga when defender Kris Carpenter’s head connected with a cross from Tyrell Barringer-Tahiri to find the back of the net in the 29th minute. Puaikura continued their momentum and found the goal again only a minute later when Maro Bonsu-Maro followed up poor clearance by Lupe goalkeeper Faalavelave Matagi.

The tournament opener between Utulei Youth and Lupe Ole Soaga was a close and physical battle, with back-to-back goals from either side, leaving the three points hunt open to right up until the final minutes of the match.

Two goals from Lapalapa Toni and a goal each from Suivai Ataga and Samuel Malo trumped the three goals scored by Utulei Youth’s Paulo Bourne and Kenneth Kerewi, setting the Samoans on the right path ahead of their next match.