Latest news with #HekariWomen'sFC
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Auckland United FC Set Up Title Decider With Hekari Womens FC At The OPC Women's Champions League In Tahiti
The New Zealand champions face a rematch against Hekari Women's FC in Saturday's (Tahiti time) decider. Ben Bate's side won the final 1-0 in the Solomon Islands last year and also defeated Hekari 2-1 in Group play last week. They made a statement against Henderson Eels, scoring three times in the first seven minutes to effectively seal progression to the final. Zoe Benson scored a hat-trick inside 28 minutes to overtake Hekari United's Marie Kaipu in the race for the Golden Boot. She now has eight for the tournament, one clear of the Papua New Guinea side's captain and star striker. Henderson Eels playmaker Ileen Pegi showed her class in a brief moment of respite for the Eels with a strong run down the flank, before cutting back inside of Saskia Vosper and unleashing a stunning right footed strike to beat a despairing Hannah Mitchell in the Auckland United FC goal. That goal in the 26th minute was as good as it got for the Solomon Islanders on attack. They did manage a freekick against the crossbar late in the second half. At the other end while Betty Sade had a tough time in the Henderson Eels goal, she produced a moment of magic to deny Ava Pritchard from the penalty spot in the 36th minute. Leading by 5-1 at the break, Auckland United FC ensured there would be no dramatic comeback from their opponents two minutes after the restart when substitute Danielle Canham scored Auckland's sixth goal of the game. From there Ben Bate's side controlled the tempo but were unable to find the back of the net again as Henderson Eels produced a resolute defensive display that was missing in the opening 30 minutes of the match.
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Hekari Womens FC Spot Secured In The OFC Women's Champions League 2025 Semi-Finals!
Press Release – Oceania Football Confederation Needing just a draw to progress to the semi-finals as Group B runners up, the Papua New Guinea champions were made to work hard by a stoic Pirae side who defended resolutely throughout but failed to seriously trouble Gloria Laeli in the Hekari Women's FC goal. Hekari Womens FC will face Fiji's BA Women FC in the second semi-final on Wednesday (Tahiti time) after defending champions Auckland United FC play Henderson Eels FC of the Solomon Islands in the first semi. Ericsson Komeng's Papua New Guinea champions couldn't quite replicate the intensity they played with against Auckland United in their second Group B match, and although they dominated possession against Pirae, lacked a clinical edge on attack and were poor in the final third. It took a stroke of luck and a goalkeeping error for Hekari to hit the front six minutes before the interval. After a run down the right, Michelyne Butubu crossed the ball into the box, but with Delphine Soret not covering her near post in the Pirae goal, the ball sliced off Butubu's boot and into the back of the net. Two minutes later striker Marie Kaipu who had been off her game for much of the half came to light with a thunderous shot against the crossbar and three minutes into added time, Ramona Padio delivered a curling corner across the goal which Shalom Waida prodded into the back of the net. Pirae coach Raimana Li Fung Kuee pushed players forward after the break and made a number of changes, knowing his side needed to score three times to make the semis. But the Hekari Women's FC defence stood firm and Pirae was unable to create any clear-cut chances to get back into the match. HT 2-0
