New Caledonia's AS Magenta have all but secured a place in the OFC Champions League knockout rounds.
The hosts defeated Tahiti's AS Central Sport 4-2 in Noumea last night to go three points clear of their competitors in Group A, with one round remaining.
Magenta import Nicolas Marin opened the scoring in the tenth minute before a brace to Matatia Paama, from open play and the penalty spot, gave Central Sport a surprise 2-1 halftime lead.
The home side could not be contained in the second half, with Eric Henessewen drawing the Francophone teams level after 56 minutes before substitute Marek Aucher regained the lead for Magenta 20 minutes later.
AS Magenta's Nicolas Marin celebrates scoring against AS Central Sport. Photo: OFC via Alain Vartane
Marin added a second goal from the penalty spot in the 80th minute to complete an impressive comeback.
Magenta coach Alain Moizan was pleased with the result.
"Of course when you win you're always happy," he said.
"For us the goal is to qualify for the semi-finals at least and winning here tonight gets us even closer to doing that."
Moizan admitted that his side were tested almost to their limit in the first half.
"It was a difficult game for us as the Tahitians dominated the middle of the field," he said.
"I asked the players to take back this sector in particular because if they don't, then we won't win the match. We were able to take it back in the second half and that's why we won."
Central Sport coach Cyril Klosek was disappointed after watching a chance at victory slip away.
"It's a deception for us for sure," he said.
"We came here to win and the score in the end isn't really a good representation of the match itself.
"But despite the disappointment I've told the players to hold their heads high as they played valiantly this evening."
Meanwhile Papua New Guinea's Madang FC scored two late goals to register their maiden Champions League win, edging Samoa's Lupe Ole Soaga 4-3.
Madang FC recorded their first ever OFC Champions League victory. Photo: OFC via Alain Vartane
Lupe opened the scoring in the third minute only for Madang to equalise two minutes later.
Stahl Gubag had the newcomers in front before the quarter hour mark, a lead they maintained to the halftime break.
Cherbel Khouchaba made it all square from the penalty spot before a Lapalapa Toni strike put Lupe back in front on 66 minutes.
But, with both sides chasing an historic first victory, it was Madang who had the final say.
Goals to Michael Tole and Samuel Kini in the space of three minutes gave the PNG club a night to remember and kept alive the semi final hopes for Francis Moyap's side.
"It showed on the field that the boys wanted it more than our brothers from the other side," Moyap said.
"It was a must for us to win this game because like we said, we are going to be competitive here and that's what we did tonight."
Lupe's coach Paul Ualesi said the last 12 minutes proved costly for his side.
"I thought we were good in the first 20 minutes but the comeback from Papua New Guinea was very good and it was hard for us to manage them."
The four sides in Group A will return to Stade Numa Daly on Friday for their final round matches.
