Lupe o le Soaga went down in their second game of the OFC Champions League 3-1 to the Solomon Warriors but the team is positive ahead of their last pool game against 10-times champions Auckland City.

Team Manager Lai Tautiaga said it was a hard fought match with the players showing real heart.

“Going in to our third match, we know that they're going to be a very tough opponent and we’ll definitely be going back to the drawing board to see where we can improve on our game,” he said.

“So far we are looking at half of the squad still playing with injuries at the moment and they played their hearts out on the field today and giving their all for the name of the club as well as our country.

“Everything at camp is fine and we are so excited to see the friendly Islands of Vanuatu and the people as well. We have got a former player that resides her in Vanuatu and we are fortunate to have him in our camp. He is or right and left hand man in doing everything for us and we acknowledge his support. He used to play for the Lupe O le Soaga in our first ever O league back in Apia.

“We don’t have any different game plan in going against Auckland city. We played against them in our last two outings and we know of the strength of the mighty Auckland city and we will try to stick to the same game plan and prepare our boys for it.”

The team management believes the results would have been much different if they had been allowed to keep the squad that played in the qualifiers.

“It would have most definitely been a different outcome. We brought over a few guys who played with their hearts out for the Lupe. One of our players almost had to play for the full 90 minutes. If we had brought our team that played during the qualifier it would have been a totally different story,” Mr Tautiaga said.

The result ends the hopes of progressing to the knockout stages for the Samoan side who have no points after two defeats and only Saturday’s Group match against Auckland City FC remaining. Lupe Ole Soaga however put up much more resistance than they did in their 6-0 defeat to Suva FC on Sunday.

Solomon Warriors controlled the game from the outset, dominating possession and playing with plenty of width on attack. Vanuatu-born Harrison Mala was a constant threat and provided the assist for the opening goal, a powerful run down the right hand side flank before delivering a pinpoint cross to Dennis Ifunaoa whose looping header evaded Osa Savelio in the Lupe goal.

Molea Tigi should have doubled the lead in the 28^th minute but his side footed effort from 12 yards was saved by Savelio.

Solomon Warriors didn’t have to wait long to get their second when a bobbling cross from Ifunaoa was fumbled by Savelio and Harrison Mala was on hand to blast home from close range in the 36^th minute.

Ifanaoa had the ball in the back of the net a few minutes later but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Lupe Ole Soaga battled hard and created their first opportunity just before the break but Vito Laloata’s header was straight at Joseph Komu in the Solomon Warriors goal. Then on the stroke of half-time Komu came out of his box and missed a through ball for Kopelani Kopelani to pounce on, but the Solomons defence were able to clear before Kopelani could get a shot away.

Tigi had a great chance to extend the lead 15 minutes into the second half but clean through on goal his shot to the left of the keeper was parried away.

The game started to open up in the final third of the match, played in scorching early afternoon heat, and Lupe got back into it when a through ball caught out the Solomon Warriors defence and Jefta Siba was able to round the keeper and score the first goal for the Samoan side in the tournament.

Any hopes of a dramatic comeback were quashed four minutes later however as Ifunaoa was on the end of a sweeping move to smash home past a hapless Savelio for his second to restore a two goal buffer.

Laloata almost pulled one back for Lupe 10 minutes from time but after a sharp turn from an acute angle his shot narrowly went wide of the left hand post.

Ifunaoa was a constant threat up front for the Solomon Warriors and his brace earned him player of the match honours.