Marist a win away from quarterfinals
By Taromane Martin
ANOTHER draw sees Marist FC sitting third in Group D in day two of the 2018 Oceania Football Champions League.
Marist drew 1-1 with AS Magenta in their second match yesterday to see them with two points after their draw with Team Wellington on Saturday.
Defender Michael Boso gave Marist the lead in the fifth minute but saw the visitors responding six minutes later through a well-timed volley by Joseph Athale.
Marist were reduced to 10 men after match referee Tahitian Kader Zitoni booked Abraham Iniga for the second time, with 15 minutes to play in the second half.
“We aimed for three points today. We started well got that goal but then gave it away. We wanted the first option but with how things turned out we had to take the second option, which is to draw,” Marist Head Coach Jerry Allen said after the game.
“Chance is there for us to qualify. The race is still on. If we win our last match convincingly then our chances of qualifying will be higher.
Allen said Iniga was unlucky to pick up the red card but is confident his other players will step up in their final game on Friday.
“We have players there. Iniga was just unlucky. The decision was a bit harsh for us but that is football, we accept it and move on.
“We must try to score. We have a lot of first timers in the team, the likes of Mathias Iani, and Tome (Davidson) who are the two upfront. Hopefully they will step up for us in our last match.
“We’ll approach our last match with the same intensity because we need to win if we are to qualify for the next stage,” he said.
Marist FC plays Lupe Ole Soaga of Samoa Friday 4pm while Team Wellington takes on AS Magenta at 1pm in the final day of the Group D action.
