Oceania Champions league

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.

The victories are the second in two matches for both sides and mean they cannot be denied a top two finish in Group A when the final matches are played on Friday, meaning a first exit from the group stage of this competition for both sides.

Lae City Dwellers opened the day’s action at Korman Stadium in Port Vila expecting a tough match against a hungry Ba FC, and that’s what they got.

“I’m proud of the boys,” Lae City Dwellers coach Raymond Gunemba said.

The PNG Kapuls captain spent whole of last year playing in Australia and is now ready to help his home side at the Champions League.

Michael Foster is a household soccer name in Madang and he spent whole of last year in Australia playing with Geelong Football club with countryman Hillary Harry Jenkins, before joining Malaita Kingz of Solomon Islands towards the end of 2017.

Foster brings with him a formidable international record of 32 games and seven goals.

The team is also the new Vanuatu Football Club Champions and now their main focus is the OFC Champions League 2017 in Tahiti next month.

Erakor Golden Star long time team manager, Donald Wanemut said their mission in Vanuatu was completed successfully last week when they won the TVL Cup and now their focus is Tahiti.

“To be honest our players have been working really hard since October last year 2016.” said Donald Wanemut.