Team Wellington have kicked off their OFC Champions League campaign with a hard-fought point after drawing 1-1 with Solomon Islands side Marist at a packed Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara on Saturday.

In front of 12,000 vocal fans, Marist took to the field with gusto but found themselves under early pressure as former Wellington Phoenix striker Hamish Watson and Guernsey recruit Ross Allen had early opportunities.

However, things soon swung in Marist’s favour as captain Henry Fa’arodo unleashed a powerful effort around the ten-minute mark to test goalkeeper Scott Basalaj’s reflexes. Fa’arodo’s shot rattled the woodwork but seemed to be what Marist needed to nudge them up a gear.

Two more chances came to Davidson Tome and Mathias Iani before Abraham Iniga found the gap he needed to put his side ahead.

With Team Wellington a goal down coming into the second half, coach Jose Figueira opted to make a change for the second spell bringing in Taylor Schrijvers. The match seemed to find a more equal balance with a lot of the action contained to midfield. Young recruit Jack-Henry Sinclair put one on target just ahead of the hour mark before Team Wellington made two more changes – one for injury and one tactical – which seemed to be the boost they needed.

With just four minutes of regulation time remaining, Angus Kilkolly found the top of the net from a tight angle to give Team Wellington an equaliser.

Figueira gave Marist the respect they deserved after a tough outing for his side in challenging new conditions and in front of one of the largest crowds the side has played before.

“Full credit to Marist, I think in the first half they were fantastic and pressed us really well and we weren’t able to get into our rhythm whatsoever,” he said.

"With the big crowd I think some of our players just lost their concentration, so credit to Marist for the way they came at us in the first half.”

Figueira said the tactical tweaks made coming into the second half were the difference for his side.

“We made a few tactical changes at half-time and I think it gave us probably a bit more solidarity, a little bit more of the ball and we were moving the ball with purpose and creating opportunities.”

OFC Champions League
Group D

Marist 1 (Abraham Iniga 37’)
Team Wellington 1 (Angus Kilkolly 85’)
HT: 1-0