Lupe o le Soaga were smashed 6-0 by Tahitian club AS Venus in their opening match of the Oceania Champions League group stage in Tahiti on Monday night Samoan time.

While both sides made attacking forays early, it was the hosts that looked more dangerous, with Lupe’s Zane Green certainly the busier of the two goalkeepers.

AS Venus hit the post then the crossbar in the 20^th minute, but it was Lupe’s Jamie Mason who had the first shot on target, although his header went straight at the keeper Teave Teamotuaitau.

The Tahitians took the lead in the 30^th minute, when a deflection from Tamatoa Tetauira snuck through Green’s legs and over the line after a goalmouth scramble.

They doubled up a few minutes later with a long-range goal to Teaonui Tehau before the action petered out somewhat for the rest of the first half.

Tetauira grabbed his second goal shortly after the break, curling in a free kick from some 20 yards out.

And again they scored once more just a couple of minutes late, with Marama Amau getting on the board after Lupe couldn’t clear

AS Venus were able to consistently put Lupe under pressure as the rain began to really settle in around the hour mark.

One of Lupe’s few chances came in the 62^nd minute when Jamie Mason got his head onto a long free kick forward from Andrew Setefano, but the import couldn’t convert.

Tauhiti Keck scored the home side’s fifth goal in the 76^th minute, and just before normal time was up Tamatoa Tetauira completed his hattrick with a  goal from a corner.

Lupe o le Soaga have two days to recover from the battering before they play Fiji’s Ba Football club on Wednesday at 5pm Samoan time.

In the other Group D game of matchday one, Ba were also beaten 6-0 by Auckland City, who rank among the tournament favourites.