Leimata Simon’s hat-trick inspires Vanuatu side to biggest OFC Women’s Champions League win as tournament hosts bow out of semi-final race
BY RICHARD MENANOPO
Solomon Islands’ representatives and hosts Henderson Eels FC have been eliminated from the OFC Women’s Champions League 2026 after suffering a heavy 6-0 defeat to Vanuatu’s Tafea FC in their second Group A match at the National Stadium in Honiara last night.
The result leaves the Eels without a point from their opening two matches and ends their hopes of reaching the semi-finals with one group match still remaining.
Tafea FC captain Leimata Simon was the star of the night, producing a historic hat-trick to inspire her side to their biggest-ever victory in the competition.
The Vanuatu forward scored twice in the first half before completing her treble in the second half, becoming the first player from a Vanuatu club to score a hat-trick in OFC Women’s Champions League history.
Tafea wasted little time asserting control of the match, dominating possession and keeping the hosts under pressure from the opening whistle.
The breakthrough came in just the eighth minute when Simon headed home after a well-timed delivery from Jane Alatoa caught the Eels defence off guard.
Despite efforts from Madeline Arakau and Captain Ileen Pegi to lift the Eels’ attacking threat, the hosts struggled to create clear opportunities against a disciplined Tafea outfit.
Simon doubled the advantage just before the break, capitalising on another ball played behind the Eels defence to send Tafea into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
The second half saw Tafea continue their dominance, scoring three goals within the opening 12 minutes to put the result beyond doubt.
A defensive mistake while attempting to play out from the back allowed Liyo Eramol to make it 4-0 in the 49th minute, before Simon completed her hat-trick five minutes later with another composed finish.
The visitors continued to punish the Eels, with substitute Nettie Kalsau heading home in the 57th minute before Pindy Erikan completed the scoring late in the match.
The defeat was a disappointing result for the tournament hosts, who entered the competition after making the semi-finals in last year’s OFC Women’s Champions League in Tahiti.
Meanwhile, three-time runners-up Hekari Women FC of Papua New Guinea fought back from behind to defeat Fiji’s Ba Women FC 3-1 in the opening match of yesterday’s double-header at the National Stadium.
Ba took the lead through Narieta Leba in the first half before Hekari produced a late comeback with goals from Maria Veronika, Nenny Elipas and Phylis Pala to secure three valuable points.
The result was a much closer contest compared to last year’s semi-final meeting in Tahiti where Hekari defeated Ba 6-1, showing the Fijian side’s improvement against one of the region’s strongest women’s football teams.
Following yesterday’s results, Tafea FC moved to the top of Group A on four points, level with Hekari Women FC but ahead on goal difference, while Ba Women FC remain in contention on three points.
The OFC Women’s Champions League 2026 continues on Friday with more group-stage action before the final round of matches on Saturday, where teams will battle for places in the semi-finals.
The tournament, hosted by Solomon Islands, brings together the best women’s football clubs from across Oceania, with the champions earning regional honours and the opportunity to represent the Pacific on the international stage.
Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek
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