Pacific

Sport: Tupapa in charge in OCF League bid

05:26 am on 19 October 2013

Defending champions Tupapa Maraerenga are in pole position heading into the final round of the Oceania Champions League Preliminary football tournament in Pago Pago.

The Cook Islands club champions thrashed local side Pago Youth 11-1 yesterday to go top of the competition standings on goal differential.

In the earlier game, Samoan champions Kiwi had to twice come from behind to beat Tonga's Lotoha'apai United 4-2.

Both Tupapa and Kiwi are tied on six points each from two matches but the Cook Islands club have a goal difference of 13 compared with just six for the Samoans.

The two teams will square off in a top of the table clash tomorrow, with Kiwi needing to win, and Tupapa requiring just a draw, to claim the title and earn direct entry into next year's Oceania Champions League main draw.