Latest news with #HekariWomensFC
Scoop
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Marie Kaipu Masterclass Secures Opening Win For Holders Despite Late Scare From Samoa's Salanoa Sisters
The second Group A match of the day was always set to be a tantalizing encounter, with the Papua New Guinea side stacked with talent from the OFC Women's Champions League finalists Hekari Womens FC, while Samoa is a federation on the rise with their U-17s preparing for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup™ in Morocco in October. The game began perhaps unsurprisingly with Papua New Guinea talisman Marie Kaipu in the thick of the action. After being cut down by Samoa captain Alisa Tuatagaloa and spending a lengthy period on the sidelines receiving treatment, Samoa were unable to utilise their numerical advantage. As if to underline her importance to the side, Kaipu was immediately in the thick of several waves of Papua New Guinea's attacks after re-entering the pitch. She first reannounced herself by bursting down the right wing to cut back and then finding herself free of the Samoan defence but not able to keep her footing before setting up to shoot. She thought she'd opened the scoring in the 17th minute, with her shot rippling the wrong side of the Samoan goal net. Kaipu's persistence paid off, however, as she opened the scoring with a brilliant solo effort. Beginning the Papua New Guinea attack after pouncing on a loose ball, she teed up a tidy one-two, before outpacing Tuatagaloa to receive the final pass and then round Samoa goalkeeper Kamy Anaya before tapping home into an empty net. PNG were unfortunate not to double their lead minutes later, with Keren Kalapai's denied by the upright. Samoa managed to shake off the shock of going behind trying to force an equaliser, with Kitiona tearing down the left wing. Papua New Guinea responded with a period of sustained pressure, led by 2022 golden boot winner and captain Ramona Padio, who had a golden opportunity to double PNG's lead in the 26th minute, after finding herself in space near the byline. PNG thought they had a second goal moments later, again traced the feet of Padio, who played Kaipu in the box making no mistake finishing, but was denied by the offside flag. Samoa came back into the game after the cooling break with renewed energy. Their endeavours almost paid off, as Xevani Salanoa launched a counterattack down the right wing shortly after the restart. She found Oteta Kitiona in the box with a low cross, but the latter was unable to convert. The pendulum swung back Papua New Guinea's way just before half time when Marie Kaipu doubled PNG's lead in the 40th minute. After being played in by Michaelyne Butubu, as with the first goal Kaipu was able to shrug off the attentions of Tuatagaloa to find herself one on one with Anaya. She coolly curled her second of the game into the bottom corner of the Samoa goal. Kaipu had the chance to secure a first half hat trick, racing clear of the Samoan defence just before the stroke of half time, but instead of shooting herself opted to lay off to Butubu, whose shot was well dealt with by Anaya, tipping the ball onto the crossbar. If the first half was dominated by Marie Kaipu, the second was the Salanoa sisters' show, with goalkeeper Xeyana Salanoa brought on at half time. While Papua New Guinea dominated the game, having had the lion's share of chances, Samoa equally grew into the game to frustrate the holders, who could easily have had five or six more goals. Samoa's persistence paid off, pulling back a late goal to up the pressure on the holders through Xevani Salanoa, who looped a header over an on-rushing Lavina Hola. Sensing the possibility of a surprise result, Samoa committed forwards again, feeding Salanoa who found herself a marked woman by the Papua New Guinea defence. At the other end of the pitch, a wonderful one handed save from the goalkeeper Salanoa to deny a last-ditch PNG attack saw Samoa finish their opening game of the OFC Women's Nations Cup 2025 without the win they hoped for, but much to be galvanized by. HT: 2-0
Scoop
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Auckland United FC secure back-to-back titles at the OFC Women's Champions League
Press Release – Oceania Football Confederation Auckland United FC have retained their OFC Womens Champions League title with a hard fought 1-0 win over Hekari Womens FC in the final at Stade Pater in Papeete. The New Zealand champions scored the only goal of the game in the 26th minute through midfielder Danielle Canham and withstood plenty of pressure from the Papua New Guinea side in the second half but kept their composure in defence to secure the win. For Hekari Womens FC it's a bitter pill to swallow, having lost the final last year in Honiara by the same score. Ericsson Komeng's side had suffered a major blow before kick-off with playmaker Ramona Padio ruled out for six weeks with an ankle injury suffered in the semi-final win over Ba Women FC. Without Padio, Hekari were a distant second best in the opening half as Auckland United FC came out with real intent and dominated the midfield exchanges. They came close to taking the lead in the opening minute when Danielle Canham thundered a shot against the crossbar. Striker Zoe Benson fired just wide of the left hand upright in the 15th minute after finding herself clear inside the box as the New Zealanders quickly found their rhythm. Up front for Hekari Marie Kaipu found herself largely isolated on attack and unable to test Hannah Mitchell in the Auckland United goal. Auckland United FC deservedly took the lead in the 26th minute when a corner the ball was played out to Yume Harashima who drove the ball into the box. Chloe Knott back heeled the ball into Canham who got a touch, and the ball somehow squeezed past Gloria Laeli in the Hekari Womens FC goal. The Kiwis should have doubled their lead in the 42nd minute when Laeli spilled the ball and Knott fired over the bar when she could have placed the ball into the back of the net. Auckland United FC started the second half on the front foot with captain Talisha Green heading straight at Laeli five minutes in. Komeng made a couple of changes to his side, and it brought more urgency into Hekari's play as the match wore on. Their best chance to equalise came in the 64th minute when Kaipu threaded a ball through on goal to Nenny Elipas, but the advancing Mitchell made a strong save to deny the Hekari forward an equaliser. Hekari continued to surge forward but the final pass often went astray, and promising positions ultimately led to nothing. Auckland United controlled the last 15 minutes and ran down the clock effectively to secure a deserved victory. Ben Bate's side will compete in the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup next year in a playoff against the AFC champions with the winner of that match visiting the CAF champions in round two. The New Zealanders are also well placed to be the Oceania representative at the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup to be played in 2028.
Scoop
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Auckland United FC secure back-to-back titles at the OFC Women's Champions League
Press Release – Oceania Football Confederation The New Zealand champions scored the only goal of the game in the 26th minute through midfielder Danielle Canham and withstood plenty of pressure from the Papua New Guinea side in the second half but kept their composure in defence to secure the win. For Hekari Womens FC it's a bitter pill to swallow, having lost the final last year in Honiara by the same score. Ericsson Komeng's side had suffered a major blow before kick-off with playmaker Ramona Padio ruled out for six weeks with an ankle injury suffered in the semi-final win over Ba Women FC. Without Padio, Hekari were a distant second best in the opening half as Auckland United FC came out with real intent and dominated the midfield exchanges. They came close to taking the lead in the opening minute when Danielle Canham thundered a shot against the crossbar. Striker Zoe Benson fired just wide of the left hand upright in the 15th minute after finding herself clear inside the box as the New Zealanders quickly found their rhythm. Up front for Hekari Marie Kaipu found herself largely isolated on attack and unable to test Hannah Mitchell in the Auckland United goal. Auckland United FC deservedly took the lead in the 26th minute when a corner the ball was played out to Yume Harashima who drove the ball into the box. Chloe Knott back heeled the ball into Canham who got a touch, and the ball somehow squeezed past Gloria Laeli in the Hekari Womens FC goal. The Kiwis should have doubled their lead in the 42nd minute when Laeli spilled the ball and Knott fired over the bar when she could have placed the ball into the back of the net. Auckland United FC started the second half on the front foot with captain Talisha Green heading straight at Laeli five minutes in. Komeng made a couple of changes to his side, and it brought more urgency into Hekari's play as the match wore on. Their best chance to equalise came in the 64th minute when Kaipu threaded a ball through on goal to Nenny Elipas, but the advancing Mitchell made a strong save to deny the Hekari forward an equaliser. Hekari continued to surge forward but the final pass often went astray, and promising positions ultimately led to nothing. Auckland United controlled the last 15 minutes and ran down the clock effectively to secure a deserved victory. Ben Bate's side will compete in the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup next year in a playoff against the AFC champions with the winner of that match visiting the CAF champions in round two. The New Zealanders are also well placed to be the Oceania representative at the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup to be played in 2028. Hekari Women FC 0
Scoop
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Auckland United FC secure back-to-back titles at the OFC Women's Champions League
The New Zealand champions scored the only goal of the game in the 26th minute through midfielder Danielle Canham and withstood plenty of pressure from the Papua New Guinea side in the second half but kept their composure in defence to secure the win. For Hekari Womens FC it's a bitter pill to swallow, having lost the final last year in Honiara by the same score. Ericsson Komeng's side had suffered a major blow before kick-off with playmaker Ramona Padio ruled out for six weeks with an ankle injury suffered in the semi-final win over Ba Women FC. Without Padio, Hekari were a distant second best in the opening half as Auckland United FC came out with real intent and dominated the midfield exchanges. They came close to taking the lead in the opening minute when Danielle Canham thundered a shot against the crossbar. Striker Zoe Benson fired just wide of the left hand upright in the 15th minute after finding herself clear inside the box as the New Zealanders quickly found their rhythm. Up front for Hekari Marie Kaipu found herself largely isolated on attack and unable to test Hannah Mitchell in the Auckland United goal. Auckland United FC deservedly took the lead in the 26th minute when a corner the ball was played out to Yume Harashima who drove the ball into the box. Chloe Knott back heeled the ball into Canham who got a touch, and the ball somehow squeezed past Gloria Laeli in the Hekari Womens FC goal. The Kiwis should have doubled their lead in the 42nd minute when Laeli spilled the ball and Knott fired over the bar when she could have placed the ball into the back of the net. Auckland United FC started the second half on the front foot with captain Talisha Green heading straight at Laeli five minutes in. Komeng made a couple of changes to his side, and it brought more urgency into Hekari's play as the match wore on. Their best chance to equalise came in the 64th minute when Kaipu threaded a ball through on goal to Nenny Elipas, but the advancing Mitchell made a strong save to deny the Hekari forward an equaliser. Hekari continued to surge forward but the final pass often went astray, and promising positions ultimately led to nothing. Auckland United controlled the last 15 minutes and ran down the clock effectively to secure a deserved victory. Ben Bate's side will compete in the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup next year in a playoff against the AFC champions with the winner of that match visiting the CAF champions in round two. The New Zealanders are also well placed to be the Oceania representative at the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup to be played in 2028. Hekari Women FC 0
Scoop
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Final Showdown: Auckland United And Hekari Womens FC Renew Rivalry In Title Rematch
The coaches and captains of Auckland United FC and Hekari Womens FC have faced off ahead of this weekend's final at the OFC Women's Champions League in Tahiti. The two sides will meet in the title decider for the second year running with defending champions Auckland United FC winning 1-0 in the final in Honiara, Solomon Islands last year. The New Zealand champions edged a competitive Group B match 2-1 last week, and the two sides are deserving finalists having been a class above their other opponents in the tournament. Both teams expect another closely fought encounter on Saturday Tahiti time. (Sunday in New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.) 'We are expecting the same again from Hekari, good energy, good pressure.' Auckland United coach Ben Bate said. ' We have seen what Hekari will bring in the first 20 minutes and we want to start well and get on the front foot early against them.' He added. Bate's counterpart at Hekari Womens FC Ericsson Komeng, says his players learned plenty from last year's final and are determined to go one better. 'With respect to Ben and his team we have to show up on the day and hopefully create more chances because they are the defending champions and a quality side and we just have to give our best.' Komeng said. Goal scoring hasn't been a problem for either side at the tournmaent with both teams winning by 6-1 margins in the semi-finals. Auckland United captain Talisha Green is confident her side can go back-to-back. 'Yeah, we're really excited. I think finals are what we play for, these big matches, so everyone's looking forward to it, pumped up. I think they're going to come out physical, they're going to come out strong and they're going to come out quick. That is their strength, and we need to do the best that we can to nullify that.' Her counterpart Marie Kaipu (7 goals) is in a race for the tournament's golden boot with Auckland United's Zoe Benson. (8 goals) But winning is all that matters for the Hekari Womens FC captain. 'Yes, we are all ready to go to the final. We have to score one or two more goals.' The winner of the tournament will compete in the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup next year in a playoff against the AFC champions with the winners visiting the CAF champions in round two.
