By CHARLIE DUMAVI
LAE City FC have come from behind with an equalizer and later defeated its rival, Hekari United FC 5-3 in the shoot out to secure the club’s eight consecutive men’s National Soccer League (NSL) title yesterday in Port Moresby.
Lae City FC trailed 1-0 after Hekari United and PNG national striker Ati Kepo slipped a ball past Lae’s goal Keeper Charles Lepani to find the net for the match opener.
The goal pave for Hekari United FC who took control of the game with Joseph Joe, Yagi Yasasa and Solomon Ranny creating options for Ati and Freddy Kepo to extend their lead but were hold back by Alwin Kolong lead Lae City defenders into halftime.
Back in for the second half, Komolong who returned to Lae less than a week ago to prepare for the grand final due to family commitments however was included in the starting list proved his worth with an equalizer following a handball outside of Hekari’s 18-yard box by Daniel Joe.
Lae picked up from there with Ronald Warrisan coming off the bench and replaced Lepany between the sticks against his opponent Russel Chris. Excited Lae City FC head Coach Bob Morris said he is was not happy with the first half but his boys have prepared well for the penalty shootout and the result proves it
He added that he risked the title to pull Alwin Komolong out from injury with under a week training to lead the defenders but Komolong showed his experience to save his team when his boys needed it.
“It was any body’s game but I knew that my boys wil win because we’ve been practicing penalties every evening because I anticipated that we will go into penalty shootout. We come into the second half and changed the game. Our strength is ball possession, we keep ball possession in second half. I was very disappointed in the first half. They (Lae FC players) didn’t play the way I told them to. Probably they (Lae) were not really confident.
I took the risk, Alwin came back to train for only one week but because of his experience I played him. He reorganizers the defense. I was banking on his experience rather than his physical fitness,” Morris said.
He added that Hekari had a vey good side with a lot of young player and it is a learning and despite the lose its is a learning process for the young talented players to learn.
Moreover, both teams put up a brilliant performance that was missed by the spectators for a while after the change of competition format to play in conferences due to Covid 19 outbreak. match was so intense and physical with players physically pulling each other down to the ground in search to secure points.
Former player and now Hekari United Coach David Muta did not claim the NSL title in his first grand final appearance as a coach however, the two team will meet again in Lae for the first leg of the Oceania Football Confederation qualifier this weekend.
