Tupapa Maraerenga made an ominous start to the OFC Champions League Qualifier, with Cook Islands club outclassing Samoa's Kiwi FC 4-1 in Rarotonga.
Harlem Simiona and Grover Harmon put the home side 2-0 up inside the opening 20 minutes.
Tupapa's Harlem Simiona celebrates scoring the opening goal. Photo: OFC Media
Federico Diaz pulled a goal back for the Samoan champions from the penalty spot before Tyrell Barringer-Tahiri restored his side's two goal cushion in the 27th minute.
Kiwi FC were reduced to nine men for the final 20 minutes of the match, following the dismissal of Falaniko Nanumea and Andrew Setefano, with Ben Mata wrapping up a comfortable victory for the hosts from the penalty spot.
Tupapa coach Delenay Yaqona was thrilled with the home team's performance.
"We really wanted to win it, we knew they were going to be our toughest opposition in this tournament and it was good to win it and get it out of the way," he said.
"One of the things that we definitely targeted as a strong point for us was out set pieces, and if you have a look at the four goals three of them were scored direct from set pieces.
"It was what we had planned for. It was good that it came off nice and early in the game and the boys obviously believed that it was a strength of ours and we just took it from there."
Tupapa Maraerenga coach Delaney Yaqona. Photo: OFC Media
Yaqona's counterpart, Kiwi FC coach Martin Tamesese, was determined not to dwell on their opening defeat.
"We still have hope for the two more games left, the boys know what happened here today is now finished, we just have to prepare for the rest of the tournament," the former Samoan international said.
Discipline proved a problem for Kiwi FC, who ended the match with nine players. Photo: OFC Media
In the earlier match, it was a Tonga's Lotoha'apai United FC recovered from a half-time deficit to thrash Pago Youth from American Samoa 5-1, with father and son Pua and Tuia Falepapalangi combining to score four of their side's goals.
Puni Samuelo gave Pago a shock lead on the brink of half-time, after spotting the Tongan keeper Semisi Otukolo off his line before lobbing the ball over him from distance.
Tuia Falepapalangi put Lotoha'apai back on level terms eight minutes into the second half before netting twice more in quick succession to complete his hat-trick in just 16 minutes.
Tuia Falepapalangi starred with a second half hat-trick. Photo: OFC Media
Hema Polovili made it 4-1 for the Tongan champions before captain Pua Falepapalangi joined his son on the scoresheet with the final goal of the game in the 83rd minute.
Lotoha'apai coach Lui Muavesi heaped praise on the father and son duo which contributed four of his side's five goals.
"Tuia is one of the most promising young talents, he represented Tonga at Under-20 level and he is one of the players to watch in the Pacific," he said.
Lotoha'apai United captain Pua Falepapalangi also got on the scoresheet. Photo: OFC Media
"It's also a piece of history playing with his dad in the field, his father who is the captain, and they scored four goals between them, it's history for Tonga and also for Oceania."
Pago Youth coach Rambo Tapui was keen to focus on the positives, despite their opening defeat.
"I think our effort was better than I expected, I think the boys came out with a lot of credit, but no excuses," he said.
"We competed well in the first half but we have to work on our fitness, I think our fitness let us down in the end."
The OFC Champions League Qualifier continues on Tuesday local time, with Kiwi FC and Pago Youth squaring off in search of their first win before a top of the table clash between Tupapa Maraerenga and Lotoha'apai United.
