OFC Champions League

Team Wellington and Hekari United have been drawn into the same group for the second year running where they will be joined by Suva, a side desperate to improve on last year’s disappointing performance on home soil, and newcomers AS Lössi.

For Kiwi the victory means a win on the final match day on 30 January will guarantee them qualification through to the group stages of the 2016 OFC Champions League in New Zealand.

After conceding two penalties inside the opening 25 minutes – one of which was missed by Jared Colligan, the other saved by keeper James McPeake – Samoa club champions Kiwi found their way into the game and did enough to see off their rivals from the Cook Islands.

The equation for American Samoa champions Utulei Youth FC and host side Tupapa Maraerenga FC in Rarotonga, Cook Islands is simple – they need to win and hope that Kiwi lose to Veitongo FC.

From there it would likely come down to goal difference, with Tupapa holding a one goal advantage over Kiwi despite going down to them 2-1 on Match Day 2.

Tupapa coach Delaney Yaqona says they will try and put the calculations out of their minds and just focus on getting a result against Utulei.

Tupapa thrashed Tonga's Veitongo FC 7-0 in the first round in Rarotonga while Samoan champions Kiwi beat Utulei Youth FC from American Samoa 6-2.

Delaney Yaqona was happy with how his side kept possession and controlled the game.

The OFC Champions League Preliminary kicks off in Rarotonga this afternoon with teams from Samoa, Tonga, American Samoa and Cook Islands vying for a spot in the full competition.

Kiwi FC won the Preliminary tournament two seasons ago, and competed in the 2014 Oceania Champions League, but failed to qualify last year.