OFC Champions League: PNG, NZ, Fiji, Solomon Islands advance to semis

The stage is set for an exciting semifinal showdown in the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Champions League tournament, taking place in Tahiti.

Hekari FC, the top women’s football team from Papua New Guinea, have secured their place in the semifinals after defeating the Tahitian champions AS Pirae 2-0 in Papeete on Monday.

Defending champions Auckland United topped their pool with a dominant 11-0 performance over PanSa from American Sāmoa, storming into the semifinals.

Hekari only needed a draw to move forward, but they faced a determined AS Pirae team that defended well throughout the match.

Despite having more control of the ball, Hekari struggled to make effective shots on goal.

It took a bit of luck for them to open the scoring just before halftime when a cross from player Michelyne Butubu accidentally went into the goal due to a mistake by Pirae's goalkeeper.

Shortly after, striker Marie Kaipu almost scored with a powerful shot that hit the crossbar.

Just before the first half ended, Ramona Padio delivered a corner kick that Shalom Waida converted into another goal for Hekari.

In the second half, Pirae's coach made changes to try to turn the game around since they needed to score three goals to advance.

But Hekari’s defence held firm and didn’t allow Pirae to create any clear scoring opportunities.

Hekari FC will take on Fiji’s Ba Women's FC in the first semifinal on Thursday, NZ time, while Auckland United faces Henderson Eels from the Solomon Islands in the other semifinal.

The defending champions from New Zealand demonstrated their skill and speed, dominating the match from the start.

Chloe Knott scored early on, and the team continued to press aggressively.

They quickly built their lead with goals from several players, including a penalty shot by Ava Pritchard after a foul in the box.

By halftime, Auckland had already scored six goals, and their relentless pursuit of more goals continued into the second half.

Substitute Pia Vlok made a significant contribution, scoring three goals herself and earning the Player of the Match award.

Despite the lopsided score, PanSa’s goalkeeper Rayxena Foma’i made numerous impressive saves, helping to limit the damage and keep her team in the game.