AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC will face Lae City Dwellers in the quarter-finals of the OFC Champions League at Kiwitea Street on Saturday 6 April 2019.
The Navy Blues have met Lae City Dwellers twice previously earning 2-0 and 2-1 wins and coach Ramon Tribulietx is wary of a Papua New Guinean side that plays off the cuff with the emphasis very much on attack.
"It's going to be interesting to take on Lae City Dwellers - we've got a home quarter-final which we have to be happy about.
"We've played Lae City many times in the last three or four years and they've got Raymond Gunemba and Nigel Dabinyaba up front who can make life very difficult for any team.
SCHEDULE | Following the official draw, here's a look at the road to the final for this year's top eight teams #CEN #MAG#AUC #LAE#HGN#BAF#WLG #HND #OFCCL pic.twitter.com/9Keeq9X80S
— OFC Oceania Football (@OFCfootball) March 6, 2019
"Ronald Warisan is a very good goalkeeper but also extravagant at times.
"Playing Lae City Dwellers in a one-off game presents challenges of it's own when you get transitions and then random situations in a match," he said.
Auckland City FC have met opposition from Papua New Guinea seven times previously winning six and drawing one.
While the draw appears to have been kind to Tribulietx and his charges, the Navy Blues coach said the focus had to remain firmly on dealing with the side from Lae first and foremost.
"The semi-final would be away from home for us and a final at home according to the OFC draw but right now all of that is meaningless.
"The only important thing right now is the quarter-final in April and before that the ISPS Handa Premiership.
OFFICIAL KICK-OFF TIMES | OFC is pleased to announce the following kick-off dates and time for the knock-out stage #CEN #MAG #AUC #LAE #HGN#BAF #WLG #HND #OFCCL pic.twitter.com/qroV6lBxA2
— OFC Oceania Football (@OFCfootball) March 7, 2019
"The players and staff have put in a good performance in recent weeks because the Solomon Islands is a tough place to travel to and win games.
"Recovery is important after the travel schedule we've had in recent times but we've coped quite well.
"We've got a tough away match at Team Wellington in the domestic competition so we'll take care of that before we looked beyond that match," he said.
The game with Lae City Dwellers kicks off at 2pm NZST on Saturday 6 April 2019.
The winner of the match faces the winner of the clash between Hienghene and Magenta in late April.
Ends
Previous Meetings v Papua New Guinea opposition
05.06.05 v Sobou FC (N) won 6-1 (Liam MULROONEY 2, Paul URLOVIC, Chad COOMBES, Chris McIVOR, Greg UHLMANN)
10.05.06 v Sobou FC (H) won 7-0 (Keryn JORDAN, Grant YOUNG, Graham LITTLE 2, Bryan LITTLE, Jason HAYNE, Liam MULROONEY)
19.11.11 v Hekari United (H) won 2-0 (Manel EXPOSITO, Emiliano TADE)
03.03.12 v Hekari United (A) drew 1-1 (Alex FENERIDIS)
13.04.16 v Lae City Dwellers (H) won 2-1 (Daewook KIM, Joao MOREIRA)
15.03.18 v Lae City Dwellers (H) won 2-0 (Clayton LEWIS 2)
28.02.18 v Madang FC (H) won 5-0 (Dan MORGAN, Callum McCOWATT, Emiliano TADE 2, Dalton WILKINS)
OFC Champions League 1/4 Final Draw
Sunday 7 April - QF1
AS Central Sport v AS Magenta
Stade Pater, Papeete - Tahiti
Kick-off: 7pm local time
Saturday 6 April - QF2
Auckland City FC v Lae City Dwellers
Kiwitea Street, Auckland - New Zealand
Kick-off: 2pm NZST
Saturday 6 April - QF3
Hienghene Sport v Ba
Stade Yoshida, Kone - New Caledonia
Kick-off: 5pm local time
Sunday 7 April - QF4
Team Wellington v Henderson Eels
David Farrington Park, Wellington - New Zealand
Kick-off: 2pm local time
OFC Champions League Semi Final Draw
Saturday 27 April/Sunday 28 April - SF1
Winner of QF 3 v Winner of QF4
Saturday 27 April/Sunday 28 April - SF2
Winner of QF 1 v Winner of QF 2
OFC Champions League Final
Winner of SF2 v Winner of SF1
Friday 29 March 2024, Croatian Club, 3.00pm
Position | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | TC | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | |
2 | AC | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
3 | MN | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
4 | BO | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
5 | WS | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | |
6 | ES | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
7 | WC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
8 | BU | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | |
9 | ES | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
10 | AU | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
11 | EB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
12 | ME | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |