Papua New Guinea’s Hekari United scored a victory for football’s minnows when they qualified for the FIFA club World Cup on Sunday.
The PNG club left New Zealand champions Waitakere United’s dream of appearing in a third club World Cup in tatters despite losing 2-1 soccer in the second leg of the Oceania League final in Auckland.
Hekari United triumphed 4-2 on aggregate after a decisive 3-0 win in Port Moresby a fortnight ago and are now guaranteed a minimum $US500,000 ($A540,000) pay day from the club World Cup in Abu Dhabi in December.
Hekari assistant coach Tommy Mana described the result as a victory for Oceania’s smaller members.
“It’s a good moment for football in the island nations,” Mana said.
“The Fifa club World Cup is another step for us. We know it’s not going to be easy. It’s our first time at a World Cup. It’s a much higher standard and there is much work to do.”
Waitakere made the perfect start when player-coach Neil Emblen headed the New Zealand champions into a 1-0 lead from a third minute Neil Sykes corner.
But when goalkeeper Danny Robinson brought down Hekari’s Solomon Islands playmaker Alick Maemae to concede a 32nd minute penalty, Waitakere were left with a four-goal mountain to climb.
Kema Jack’s conversion of the spot kick gave Hekari a vital away goal and while Brent Fisher cut into the aggregate deficit with an 84th minute penalty, it was too late to prevent the visitors sealing a spot.
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The Matilda scored the first two of her team's goals in the 4-0 win.
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