Reds beat

 By HENRY MORABANG 

HEKARI United’s dream of making their second FIFA Club World Cup took a huge hit when they were beaten 3-1 by Vanuatu’s Tafea in the first Oceania Football Confederation’s Champions League opener at Govind Park in Lautoka, Fiji yesterday.

The Reds’ hopes lie in tatters and coach Jerry Allen will need to come up with a better plan and combinations when the Papua New Guinea  take on New Caledonia’s  AS Magenta on Thursday. 

Allen admitted the better side won but added his men did not help their cause with a flat showing particularly in the mid-field.  

“It was the bad game for the boys. The red card to Tumasi Manuca cost us the game but that is how football goes,” Allen said.  

“It was a disappointing result since we came here to do well but things did not go our way. 

Some of our players are injured like mid-fielder ands captain David Muta which affected that area but we will try to fix our midfield play and hopefully to bounce back against Magenta.”

Hekari franchise owner John Kapi Natto said from Fiji the two-goal loss was disappointing.

“Our mid-field play was below expectation and we will need to get David (Muta), who is carrying injury, back into the team for Thursday,” kapi Natto said.

Kapi Natto said his climb now had a mountain to climb to beat AC Magenta (Thursday) and finish off the pool phase victory over Ba on Sunday to have any hope of progressing to the finals.

Tafea FC coach Moise Poida said he was pleased with the effort and enthusiasm shown by his young side, most of whom played for the national under-20 side last year.

Hekari, who were crowned the 2010 O-League champions were poor all over the park despite having the more experienced line-up lead by Fijians Tuimasi Manuca and Pita Bolaitoga. 

Tafea striker Dalop Damalip opened the scoring in the 9th minute with a sensational strike to leave Hekari goalie Leslie Kalai helplessly watch into the net. 

Tafea kept up the pressure which resulted in a 29th minute opportunistic goal to nippy Joses Nawo . 

With four minutes remaining before halftime Hekari pulled one goal through the in-form Tutizama Tanito with a low shot that beat goalie Seloni Laruel all ends up.  

In the second half with 10 minutes remaining more salt was rubbed into the Hekari’s wound as Manuca was red-carded by referee Matt Conger for unprofessional conduct.

In the 81st minute, Don Mansale completed the dominant display after Nawo sent a cross his way and he made no mistake.

In the other Pool C match between AS Magenta and Ba, the home team defeated  the New Caledonians 2-0.

Tafea FC 3 (Dalong Damalip 9’, Joses Nawo 29’ Don Mansale 81’)

Hekari United 1 (Tutizama Tanito 41’)

Half time 2-1

Unofficial points ladder: (Pool C)  Tafea 3, Ba 3, Hekari 0, AC Magenta 0