SUVA, (FIJI TIMES) – Last year’s semi-finalist AS Pirae of Tahiti crashed out of the Fiji Airways OFC Champions League after going down to debutants Gaitcha of New Caledonia 5-2 at Govind Park in Ba Tuesday night.
Gaitcha showed a lot of improvement in the second encounter after the opening 3-0 loss to Ba.
The high intensity of the match against Lupe Ole Soaga on Saturday took its toll on the AS Pirae team which only brought 16 players for the tournament.
Gaitcha raced away to a 3-0 lead at halftime.
Loic Wakanumune nodded the opener in the 24th minute.
Jean Christ Wajoka scored the second with a brilliant solo effort dribbling his way from about 30 metres to power the ball in.
Patrick Drawilo who came on as a substitute lobbed the ball over AS Pirae goalkeeper Patrice Firiapu’s head from a long range free kick in the 43rd minute.
AS Pirae pulled one back through Marc Vaki four minutes into the second spell.
Wajoka claimed his second in the 66th minute while Bertrand Kai scored his team’s fifth goal. Roonui Tinirauarii got on the board for AS Pirae late in the match.
Gaitcha will face Lupe Ole Soaga on Saturday .
Gaitcha: Mickael Ulile, Jeremie Dokunengo, Loic Wakanumune, Jean-Paul Read, Cedric Sansot, Emile Bearune, Marius Bako, Bertrand Kai, Jean-Christ Wajoka, Georges Bearune, Jedidha Saiko.
AS Pirae: Patrice Firiapu, Nicolas Vallar, Vincent Simon, Heimanu Taiarui, Roy Kayara, Heiarii Tavanae, Tainui Lehartel, Efrain Araneda, Marc Vaki, Jay Warren, Teaonui Tehau.
