DEBUTANTS Lupe Ole Soaga of Samoa staged a dramatic comeback to draw 3-all against AS Pirae of Tahiti in the opening round of the Fiji Airways OFC Champions League at Govind Park in Ba yesterday.
It was a game of two halves with AS Pirae dominating the first and Lupe Ole Soaga hitting back in the second.
The Samoan club was down 3-1 at halftime but a pep talk by coach Paul Ualesi at the break ignited them to step up in the next 45 minutes.
The two teams were evenly matched in the first ten minutes scoring a goal each through spectacular free kicks.
The Tahitians were first on the score board when Jay Warren curled the ball past the Lupe Soaga goalkeeper Ted Sikovi in the second minute.
Scott Gannon equalised for the Samoan club in similar fashion at the other end six minutes later.
AS Pirae slowly regrouped and took control. Heiarii Tavane scored the second for AS Pirae after his shot went in after a defection off Sikovi in the 14th minute.
Teaonui Tehau lobbed the ball in the 23 minute to give AS Pirae a comfortable 3-1 cushion.
When it seemed that AS Pirae would run away with the match in the second spell, it was Gannon who rescued the Samoan club. His timely corner kick in the 58th minute was guided in by Suivai Ataga.
Lupe Ole Soaga kept up the pressure playing aggressively and drew level in the 69th minute through Luki Gosche.
AS Pirae captain Roy Kayara wasn’t happy with his team’s performance.
Kayara said it was very difficult for them to combine.
“It wasn’t a good effort from us,” he said.
“The Samoan club played hassling football. Our game plan did not go accordingly. Now we have to improve in the next game.”
Lupe Ole Soaga coach Paul Ualesi could not hide his joy fisting the air after the final whistle.
Ualesi said to come from behind to draw level against an experienced outfit was a major achievement.
“I take off my hat off to the players for a splendid performance,” he said.
“It is the first time for the team to play in this tournament. The boys were slack in the first half, but in the second half and until the last minute they showed a lot of composure.
“AS Piare has a lot experience and my boys worked very hard to hold them.”
AS Pirae: Patrice Firiapu, Nicolas Vallar, Vincent Simon, Edson Lemaire, Roonui Tinirauarii, Roy Kayara, Heiarii Tavanae, Tainui Lehartel, Mark Vaki, Jay Warren, Teaonui Tehau
Lupe Ole Soaga: Ted Sikovi, Vaalii Faalogo, Andrew Setefano, Vito Laloata, Suivai Ataga, Lionel Taylor, Silao Malo, Karetia Soafa, Lapalapa Toni, Luki Gosche, Scott Gannon.
