Ba Women learn from Hekari loss

The Ba women’s football team is still confident of reaching the OFC Women’s Champions League semi-final despite their 3-1 defeat to Hekari United in their second Group A match in Honiara, Solomon Islands, on Wednesday.

Team captain Luisa Tamanitoakula said the side was disappointed to surrender their lead but believes their qualification was still within reach.

“We were leading, but we let our guard down in the closing stages,” she said.

“It’s back to the drawing board now as we prepare for our final pool match. We still have three points and everything to play for,” Tamanitoakula said.

She said no team in the group has been eliminated from semi-finals.

“We are still fighting for a place in the semi-finals. We will review our mistakes, recover well and aim to lift our performance in the next game.”

She credited her team-mates for matching one of the region’s strongest clubs for much of the contest.

“Hekari have played together for several years and many of their players represent the Papua New Guinea national team. I was proud of how we matched their intensity, especially in the first half.”

Tamanitoakula said discipline proved costly after Ba was reduced to 10 players.

“We came for the three points, but the red card changed the game. Playing with one player less made it difficult for us to maintain control and that proved to be the turning point