Ifira Black Bird

Conversely, AS Pirae, after a dominant 3-0 win over New Caledonia’s Tiga Sport in their first match, can cement a semi-final berth with victory at Freshwater Stadium in Port Vila.

The magnitude of the occasion isn’t lost on Ifira coach Jean Robert Yelou.

“We want to stay alive in this competition so I’ll do everything to try and get those three points,” Yelou said.

“I will play our best team and I’ve already told the boys we have to do everything in our power to keep our hopes alive.

“Our destiny is still in our own hands. Nothing is impossible.”

Meanwhile, AS Pirae made an emphatic start to their Group B campaign, powering to a 3-0 win over New Caledonia's Tiga Sport in the capital, scoring all three goals in a first half blitz.

RNZ Pacific reports Hekari, who were champions in 2010, scored two second half goals to repel the challenge of the Vanuatu team in front of a vibrant home crowd of nearly 6000.

A spirited appeal for handball in the Hekari penalty area in the 36th minute threatened to be the defining moment of the first half, but the home town pleas for a penalty were dismissed by the referee.

Home side Ifira Black Bird will play their group B matches in the capital and have been joined by Hekari United of Papua New Guinea, AS Pirae of Tahiti and Tiga Sport of New Caledonia.

Fiji's Suva are in group A with defending champion New Zealand's Auckland City, Solomon Warriors and Lupe Ole Solaga of Samoa who topped a qualifying section played in Apia.

RNZ Pacific reports the two highest placed teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals. 

Ifira Black Bird made the perfect start to their second leg fixture at Luganville Soccer City Stadium after they took a 3-0 lead into their match with Siaraga (LFA) FC.

A Godine Tenene chip over goalkeeper Greg Charlie in only the second minute of play was the only goal of the game, but given that the aggregate was a healthy one for Ifira, they could afford to simply park the bus for the remaining 88 minutes.

This follows a hard battle to beat 2016 champions, Erakor Golden Star after penalty shootout at Port Vila Stadium yesterday Saturday 10 June 2017.

Both clubs ended the match 0-0 after extra time and the winner must be decided by penalty shootout and Ifira came out the winners 3-0 , thanks to goals from Charles Atainoa and Harrison Mala from Solomon Islands and the third goal from Lee Taiwia.

The hero of the match is Ifira Black Bird FC goal keeper, Antony Taiwia who stopped all three shots from Erakor Golden Star FC.

Ifira Black Bird head coach from Solomon Islands, Batram Suri said on Wednesday that they are going for a win against PVFA Champions but if they draw with Erakor he will still be happy and his dream come through.

Both teams missed chances to score but credit goes to the two goalkeepers of the two teams for their outstanding performance.

This is the first time in the Premier League, ifira Black Bird top the ladder after first leg.

Second leg of the Digicel Premier League kicks off on Monday.

Fixtures Second Leg.