Tupapa Maraerenga and Lotoha'apai United will put their winning records on the line in the OFC Champions League Qualifier today, with the winner all but guaranteed one of two spots in the competition main draw.
Cook Islands champions Tupapa thrashed Samoa's Kiwi FC 4-1 in their first match, while Tonga's Lotoha'apai United were 5-1 winners against Pago Youth from American Samoa.
Tupapa Maraerenga are seeking back to back OFC Champions League Qualifier titles. Photo: OFC Media
Hosts Tupapa are well placed to advance to the Champions League main draw for a second straight year but coach Delaney Yaqona believed they still have plenty of room for improvement.
"We've been in this strong position before so while we're very ecstatic about the win yesterday (against Kiwi) we are slightly cautious, knowing we've got another good team coming up," he said.
"We know exactly how they play - the boys had an opportunity to watch half of their game.
"One of the things that we definitely need to work on is getting the ball to our strikers, either through gaps or at his feet, because there was some frustration building there as the game went through," said Yaqona.
"The majority of our goals were scored from set pieces, which is great, but as the game goes we've got to try and find out strikers a bit more and put them in positions where they can score."
Tonga's Lotoha'apai United scored five second half goals in their opening match. Photo: OFC Media
Lotoha'apai last featured in the qualifier event at the end of 2014 but coach Lui Muavesi believed the Tonga Major League champions have arrived in Rarotonga a much improved side.
"That's everyone's goal to come here and to have a spot for the next stage," he said.
"I do believe we [can] push Tupapa and try to win the game - a win or draw - but we believe that we have the chance to go to the second stage."
"We have young and fitter players. I mean we're playing with tall, big players from Tupapa but with the skill that we have I do believe we will give them a tough game," he said.
Kiwi FC and Pago Youth will kick off proceedings on matchday two in Rarotonga, with both teams needing a win to keep any realistic qualification hopes alive.
Samoa's Kiwi will be without the suspended Andrew Setefano and Falaniko Nanumea, who were sent off in their opening round loss, but coach Martin Tamasese
said the team will keep fighting for a top two spot.
"We still have two games left and our hopes are still alive, I told the boys to forget about he first match and they listen to me," he said.
"We put it behind us and now we focus on our next match and the rest of the tournament. It's a new day tomorrow and we will be prepared for the match against our brothers from Pago."
Kiwi FC coach Martin Tamasese. Photo: OFC Media
Pago Youth led 1-0 at the interval before conceding five second half goals against Lotoha'apai United.
Coach Rambo Tapui is hoping the rivalry with their Samoan brothers can inspire his team.
"We are fully focussed on the game against Kiwi, I think it's going to be a rough and tough game because the boys from Samoa always clash, and hopefully my guys can raise their fitness a little bit to be more competitive," he said.
"We have a lot to play for, we play for American Samoa our family and everyone else back home cheering us on."
Pago Youth scored first before fading in the second half. Photo: OFC Media
