Association Sportive Pirae () is a professional Tahitian football club based in Pirae. They are one of the most successful teams in Tahiti, having won the Tahiti Division Fédérale eleven times. They are also the first French Polynesian team to have reached the final of the OFC Champions League, which they achieved in 2006. They were selected by the OFC to participate in the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup.
History
Oceania Club Championship 2006 AS Pirae qualified for the Oceania Club Championship 2006 after winning the Division Fédérale. In the group stages they recorded big wins against Marist FC 10–1, and Sobou FC 7–0, which was enough to secure their passage to the semi-finals despite a 1–0 defeat to Auckland City in the last game. In the semi-finals they pulled off a major shock beating YoungHeart Manawatu 2–1 thanks to early goals from Jose Hmae and Naea Bennett. However, in the Final they met Auckland City once again and suffered a 3–1 defeat. This remains the best performance by any French Polynesian side in the premier Oceanian club competition.
2007–2010
Between 2007 and 2010 Pirae have been unable to replicate the form that saw them finish runners-up in the Oceania Club Championship and they have not qualified for the competition in its new form the OFC Champions League. In the 2009–10 season Pirae finished 4th in the Division Fédérale and then 4th in the Championship play-off.
2021 FIFA Club World Cup Pirae participated in the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup as Oceanian representatives, after being nominated by the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) on 31 December 2021. Initially, Auckland City were nominated by the OFC after the 2021 OFC Champions League was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Auckland City withdrew from the competition on 31 December 2021 due to delayed reopening of the borders in New Zealand related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the reintroduction of the mandatory managed isolation and quarantine system upon returning to the country. As a result, Pirae were nominated instead by the OFC, based on sporting merit principles. Pirae lost 4–1 in the play-off match of Club World cup against hosts Al Jazira, with their only goal coming via an own goal from Mohammed Rabii.
Honours Domestic Tahiti Ligue 1 Champions (12): 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2013–14, 2019–20, 2020–21 2021–22, 2023–24. Tahiti Cup Winners (10): 1970, 1980, 1984, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2023. Tahiti Coupe des Champions Winners (3): 1996, 2021, 2022.
Continental Oceania Club Championship/OFC Champions League Runners-up: 2006, 2024 Pacific French Territories Cup Winners: 2001, 2007 Coupe D.O.M-T.O.M Winners: 2002
Recent seasons Season League/position 2012–13 7th in Ligue 1. 1/8 finals of Tahiti Cup. 2013–14 1st in Ligue 1. Qualified to OFC Champions League. Semifinals of Tahiti Cup. 2014–15 2nd in Ligue 1. Tahiti Cup champions. OFC Champions League Group stage. 2015–16 4th in Ligue 1. 7th Round of Coupe de France. Quarter finals of Tahiti Cup. 2016–17 6th in Ligue 1. Round 2 of Tahiti Cup. 2017–18 4th in Ligue 1. Round 2 of Tahiti Cup. 2018–19 4th in Ligue 1. Semifinals of Tahiti Cup. 2019–20 1st in Ligue 1. Qualified to OFC Champions League. Quarter finals of Tahiti Cup. 2020–21 1st in Ligue 1. Qualified to OFC Champions League. Runners-up of Tahiti Cup. OFC Champions League cancelled. Nominated for the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup.
Source:
Performance by competition French competitions French Cup: 11 appearances 1989–90, 1990–91, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2015–16 Best performance: Eighth round – 1989–90, 1990–91, 1992–93
Continental record
OFC Champions League: 1 appearance Best: Semi-finalist, 2013–14
Oceania Club Championship: 1 appearance Best: 2006: Finalist
OFC Men's Champions League resultsSeasonRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate2005Group A Sobou 5–1 2nd Auckland City 1–0 Sydney FC 0–6Semi-finals Magenta 1–42006Group A Marist 10–12nd Sobou 7–0 Auckland City 0–1Semi-finals YoungHeart Manawatu 2–1Final Auckland City 1–32013–14Group A Solomon Warriors 2–11st Kiwi 8–0 Waitakere United 3–1Semi-finals Auckland City 2–1 0–32–42014–15Group A Lupe o le Soaga 3–33rd Gaïtcha 2–5 Ba F.C. 0–2
References