Soccer: Napier gearing up for second big soccer test

It will not get any easier for Napier City Rovers in their second-round Oceania club soccer championship match in Papua New Guinea tonight.

Following their hard-fought 2-0 opener against local side Unitech FC, Napier face Solomon Islands representative Laugu United.

United beat the favoured Fiji side, Foodtown Warriors, 3-1 to join Napier and Australian side Wollongong Wolves as first-round winners.

Wollongong thumped Tonga's Lotoha'pai FC 16-0.

Chris McIvor gave Napier the lead in the first half and captain Martin Akers made it safe with a 70th-minute header.

The PNG representatives never faltered and had the Napier defence under some pressure in a match played under substandard floodlighting.

Wollongong meet the Fijians this afternoon.

Napier coach Charlie Howe said he was relieved to win, given the hard conditions they were forced to play under.

"It was pretty tough," Howe said. "The pressure came really strong from the locals, who were chanting away, while the lighting was not flash at all ... in fact, it was rather difficult to see.

"Also, the humidity was intense and it'll be interesting to see how that affects our recovery."