Team Wellington and Ba chalked up victories in the OFC Champions League to set the scene for a crucial final day showdown in Group B.
Saula Waqa struck in the final ten minutes to give Ba a narrow 1-0 victory over Puaikura FC at at Stade Yoshida.
Ba coach Imdad Ali said the Cook Islands champions were difficult to break down.
"I had in mind that Puaikura would be playing a little more defensively," Ali said.
"But as the game went on they pushed further forward and it was good for us to be able to play."
"We played well but we missed so many scoring opportunities. If we scored those it would've been a much different score line, however three points is enough for us."
Ba celebrate the winning goal as Puaikura FC look on. Photo: OFC Media
Puaikura coach Kevin Fallon was proud of the effort from his players.
"You can't expect much more from them to be honest," Fallon said.
"They've come on well and it was probably the worst bit of defending that Ba scored from, but prior to that there'd been some wonderful bits of defending and good defensive organisation."
"We read it right tonight but we just missed by the skin of our teeth."
Team Wellington made it back to back wins, with Guillermo Moretti and Andy Bevin scoring late goals to defeat hosts Hienghène Sport 3-1 in Kone.
Team Wellington kept the opposition keeper busy against Hienghène Sport in Koné. Photo: OFC via Alain Vartane
Coach Jose Figuiera was proud of the way his players ground out the win.
"We knew this game was going to be a big game and a tough test against a big home crowd and a team full of passion," he said.
"And I'm just really proud of the boys the way we stood up in some very difficult conditions and a difficult difficult opponent in the way they approach the game.
"But, objectively if I look at it, I think we thoroughly deserve it with the amount of opportunities we created so obviously delighted with two games and two wins."
Team Wellington and Ba will square off in their final group match on Saturday, with a draw enough for Wellington to advance to the semi finals, while Ba need all three points.
