New Caledonian champions Mont-Dore have retained their place among Oceania's football elite after a 3-1 win over Cook Islands outfit Tupapa Maraerenga in the O-League Preliminary Play-off on Tuesday.
A Tupapa win would have seen the Rarotonga-based club become the first Cook Islands side to compete in the O-League but the goals to Pascal Kenon, Loic Bessieres and Jacques Wamytan ensured Mont-Dore's survival.
Tupapa grabbed a consolation goal in injury time and player-coach Tony Jamieson says despite the result, he was proud of the way his team stuck to the game plan and left nothing in the tank.