HEKARI United FC have secured their place in the OFC Men’s Champions League after a strong 3-0 victory over Port Moresby Strikers FC in the second leg of the National Play-off in Port Moresby.
The first opportunity of the game came in the sixth minute when Hekari United’s Rex Naime headed a well-placed cross just above the crossbar.
Strikers had an opportunity to get back into the tie in the 19th minute when Matthew David broke through on the right flank but his shot ricocheted off a defender and into the grateful hands of goalkeeper Dave Tomare.
The deadlock was broken in the 24th minute when a well-placed Yagi Yasasa free kick found a teammate at the far post.
The ball fell to Hekari United’s Karo Kila in front of the goal and he lashed the ball into the top of the net. In the dying minutes of the first-half, Hekari had a flurry of promising chances.
Rani powered a left foot shot from long range but was denied by an acrobatic save from Koniel, whilst minutes later, a well-worked Hekari attack led to a close-range shot from Rex Naime – once again the danger was extinguished by Koniel.
The fresh legs reignited the match in the second half and in the 65th minute, Hekari United substitute Nathaniel Eddie latched on to a looping ball to the right flank and powered it wide of goal.
A minute later, Strikers’ substitute Eaka Philemon sliced a clean volley to the top left of the goal frame.
Momentum shifted to Strikers and they enjoyed more opportunities as they tried to work a way back into the tie.In the 70th minute, Hekari put the game to bed.
Joseph Joe capitalised on a stray ball from the Strikers’ defense and crossed it to Rani who found space in the box and slotted the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal to make it 2-0.
In the game’s closing minutes, there was action at both ends as Strikers scrambled for every opportunity in a desperate bid to draw level.
A powerful curling Strikers free kick forced a diving save from Tomare in the 89th minute but within seconds, the ball was down the other end in a rapid Hekari counter-attack and Ila Ani netted a well-placed cross – the goal however ruled out for offside.
Minutes later, another excellent Joseph Joe pass put Yasasa through the Strikers’ defense and he was brought down by Arol Tateng in the box.
Joe himself stepped up to take the resulting penalty, driving the ball to the top right corner to make it 3-0.
Hekari will join Group A in the OFC Men’s Champions League in May, alongside the National Playoff winners from the Solomon Islands, New Zealand and Rewa FC from Fiji.Source: OFC MediaENDs//…