12 May 2012

Sport: Auckland City expect Tefana to back themselves

9:03 am on 12 May 2012

Auckland City are expecting to come up against a Tefana side full of confidence in tomorrow's second and deciding leg of the Oceania Champions League final.

The defending champions will take a narrow 2-1 lead into the match in Papeete, following their first leg win in New Zealand last month.

But head coach Ramon Tribuleitx expects the hosts will back themselves to turn it around on a ground they've yet to lose at this season.

"It's going to be very hard because they know that mentally they've got a good opportunity, they're playing at home and playing on their own surface and they're used to it, which is probably a slight advantage they've got but again in terms of the things that we can control, which is the way we're going to play, we're going to play for a win, which we always do."

The winner of the O-League will win a cheque for US$500,000 and represent Oceania at the Club World Cup in Japan in December.