History was created last night at the Stade Mahina in Tahiti when the Samoan League Champions Club, Lupe ole Soaga beat the resilient Fijian League Champs of Ba with a score of 4-3.
The Samoan side surprised Ba Football Club with four (4) first half goals by Jamie Mason, Tomas Mosquera, Va’a Taualai and Richievoy Ueligitone.
Lupe o le Soaga’s win is a milestone for Samoan football where for the first time a Samoan club has won a game in the group stage of the OFC Champions League.
Lupe earned their place in Group D after winning the Qualifying Stage tournament in Auckland in January of this year.
The team has represented Samoa in past Oceania tournaments however have never secured a ‘win’ except for their previous best result in the group stages which was recorded as a 3-3 draw with Tahiti’s AS Pirae team in 2015.
Lupe’s Head Coach Fa’aeanu’u Paul Ualesi was emotional when contacted for a comment following their win.
“It was the best feeling ever, I’m still in awe and am very proud of my boys achievement creating history by becoming the first ever Samoan Club team to win a game in the second stage tournament of the Oceania Champions League, I have so much respect for Ba, but winning against such top team is a great achievement.”
Ualesi said he was grateful to their colleagues and fans at home for the support and prayers they had sent through to the team.
Lupe will play Auckland City in the first game of the final match day for Group D on Saturday likely needing a draw or a win to move on to the quarter-finals.
Ba will meet Venus and Ba could have no mathematical way to advance depending on the result of the Auckland and Lupe game.
