Labasa Women FC and AS Academy Féminine meet in what shapes as a crucial match day three encounter at the inaugural OFC Women’s Champions League in Papua New Guinea today.
The Fijian champions, impressive in their opening 6-0 win over Kiwi FC, suffered the heartbreak of a last-minute 1-0 loss to Koloale FC in their second match on Saturday.
AS Academy Feminine meanwhile scored a 100th minute winner to stun pre-tournament favourites, local side Hekari United on Thursday and will look to maintain their 100 percent record.
The format of the tournament, five sides playing four round robin four matches each means a second defeat for Labasa would effectively rule them out of title contention. It is shaping up as a tournament where goal difference could well be crucial.
Labasa Women FC coach Arthur Simmons described the match as must-win for his side.
“It’s do or die for us today,” Simmons said. “We missed 11 chances to score in our last match, so we just let ourselves down.”
Simmons admitted his side’s depth was really being tested as he prepared the players for a third tough match in six days.
“We will have to make some changes because we have a few injuries in the squad. The other teams have been training for a lot longer than we have and that’s the reality we face, we will need to make changes to keep the squad as fresh as possible. Our opponent AS Academy Féminine rested yesterday so they are going to be fresher than us. “
The early match at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium in Port Moresby features Solomon Islands champions Koloale FC against the Samoan battlers’ Kiwi FC who have shown tremendous spirit despite conceding 15 goals in their two matches to date.
The match kicks off at 7 pm.
