Auckland City and AS Venus have made emphatic starts in Group D of the OFC Champions League football competition with identical 6-0 victories over Ba FC and Lupe o le Soaga in Tahiti on Sunday local time.
Jordan Vale opened the scoring for nine-time champions Auckland City on the half hour mark at a sodden Stade Pater while Emiliano Tade (2), Logan Rogerson, Myer Bevan and Brian Kaltack all got on the scoresheet.
Emiliano Tade scored twice as Auckland City thrashed Ba FC 6-0. Photo: Massimo Colombini OFC
Coach Jose Figueira said his side's experience proved vital as they adjusted to the wet weather.
"Very happy, the first game's always tricky in this competition with the limited analysis on what the opposition's going to be like," he said.
"I thought the way that we started the game was really pleasing. We knew we had to compete, we knew that it would be tough physically and we knew we'd have to deal with the conditions."
Auckland City proved too strong for Ba FC at a sodden Stade Pater. Photo: Massimo Colombini OFC
Ba coach Ricki Herbert said the Fijian Premier League champions let themselves down with some loose marking in the final third, which proved costly.
"It was a tough one. We knew it would be like that," he said.
"Probably a little bit disappointed with some of the simple mistakes we made. I thought we started really well. I thought we were right on the front foot."
Meanwhile Tamatoa Tetauira ensured the local fans went home happy, albeit a little wet, as he bagged a hat-trick for AS Venus as the 10-time Tahiti Ligue 1 winners outclassed Samoan champions Lupe o le Soaga in the later kick-off.
Tamatoa Tetauira bagged a hat-trick for AS Venus. Photo: Massimo Colombini OFC
The 23 year old midfielder opened his account on the half hour mark, while the home side also struck the woodwork three times in the first 33 minutes, and completed the scoring shortly before full-time.
Teaonui Tehau and Tauhiti Keck also found the back of the net, while Lupe captain Andrew Setefano conceded an unfortunate own goal early in the second spell.
Venus coach Sam Garcia was happy with the result but said there is plenty of room for improvement heading into a top of the table clash against Auckland City.
"It was just the first match, and the conditions were a bit complex, but that was [the same] for the two sides," he said.
"We just really need to do better at holding onto the ball because tonight it was difficult. The main thing is that we won, you have to score goals, you have to win and that was done. Now we'll focus on recovering well for Wednesday."
Heavy rain forced the games on match-day one to be moved to Stade Pater from Stade Mahina. Photo: Massimo Colombini OFC
Lupe o le Soaga coach Paul Ualesi was proud of his side despite the defeat.
"We missed some good opportunities," he said. "But we are going to work on some silly mistakes. That cost us for the first and second half."
