OCL 2022: Do or die for Delta Tigers

The Rewa Football side will have to beat Hienghene Sports to book a spot in the semi-finals of the Oceania Champions League 2022 after going down 0-3 against Auckland City on Monday.

Auckland City FC confirmed its place in the semi-finals with a win against Hieghene Sports and Rewa FC.

Rewa had a good start beating Nikao Sokkattak FC 3-1 last Thursday.

The Delta Tigers will face the New Caledonian champions tomorrow.

First-half goals from skipper and New Zealand representative Cam Howieson, on his way to Player of the Match honours, and Mario Ilich did much of the damage for the nine-time OCL champions, before Emiliano Tade produced a beautiful chipped shot in the dying stages to put the icing on the victory.

Earlier, City had to fend off a fast start from Rewa which saw the Fijians employ a high press and create a couple of scoring chances.

However, that tactic also meant Rewa were vulnerable on the counter, and only the quick thinking of keeper Mohammed Alam denied City an opener early on, as he swarmed to block a shot off Howieson’s foot from close range.

But eventually Auckland City found a way through after surviving a near miss at the other end when Abbu Zahid couldn’t get to a driven cross, breaking via Dylan Manickum who was then brought down illegally by Iowane Matanisiga, resulting in a penalty and yellow card.

Howieson converted with a crisp effort from the spot, before turning provider nine minutes later for Ilich.

Howieson delivered a ball from a corner which Alam initially did well to save, but was powerless to stop on the second bounce which Ilich tapped home.

City controlled proceedings through the second half, enjoying long periods of possession and soaking up the few chances Rewa did create, before Tade got in behind the Rewa defence and produced a stunning shot up over the advancing Alam to seal a 3-0 victory.