HONIARA – Joe Luwi and James Naka are the toast of the town after their goals helped Kossa FC to a 3-1 win over Waitakere United in the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) O-League Final 1st Leg.
Jonathon Perry pulled one back for the reigning OFC O-League and New Zealand Football Championship (NZFC) title holders but it wasn’t enough to stop the Jacob Moli-coached club from taking the honours in front of 20,000 fans at a packed Lawson Tama Stadium.
Moli told the media that any thought of winning the OFC O-League and qualifying for the FIFA Club World Cup – Japan 2008 is premature given the match was only at the halfway stage.
Boats carrying fans from Auki, the Western province, Makira are en route to Honiara as the nation’s capital comes to a standstill for the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) O-League Final 1st Leg between Kossa FC and Waitakere United.
Tickets have been on sale in Honiara all week with crowds already gathered outside Lawson Tama Stadium searching for tickets, programmes and a sight of their heroes some three hours ahead of the big kick-off.
All eyes will be on Waitakere United and Solomon Islands internationals Benjamin Totori and Commins Menapi with a core of support expected to follow the Chris Milicich-coached Kiwi champions.
The majority of the crowd is expected to be following the home side but local rivalries will ensure a small but vocal minority will be cheering on the visitors.
Kossa FC enjoyed crowds of 12,000 and 13,000 for its Group B matches against Tafea FC and Ba and just over 102 Royal Solomon Islands Police Force officers, a 30-strong rapid response unit and private security officials as well as RAMSI personnel are in place to ensure this match goes off without a hitch.
TELEVISION
Solomon Islands One News Limited will show the match delayed on Sunday 27th April, 2008.
Fiji Television will broadcast the match delayed through its Sky Pacific Network – check your local listings for details.
RADIO
Solomon Islands Broadcast Corporation (SIBC) will provide live radio coverage for Solomon Islands listeners throughout the island archipalego.
Medium Wave 1035 Honiara
Short Wave 5020/9545 Honiara
FM 96.3 Honiara
Medium Wave 945 Gizo
Medium Wave 1386 Lata
INTERNET
www.oceaniafootball.com will provide its usual live text updates – please refresh your browser for updates and remain patient as internet coverage can sometimes drop out in Solomon Islands.
LIVE TEXT UPDATES
KOSSA FC (SOL) vs. WAITAKERE UNITED (NZL)
FIRST HALF
0-Welcome to Lawson Tama stadium where we are all set to go. Estimates of the crowd are around 18,000 with 5,000 still outside. Its an exciting atmosphere and I’m sure their are plenty of nerves on both sides.
1- Kossa make a good start with Reginald Davani earning Kossa a corner after a break forward from James Naka
5- It has been an even start to this one with neither side dominating possesion early on
6- Totori gets on the end of a Darren Bazely cross for Waitakere but his header is straight at the Kossa goalkeeper
8′ Joe Luwi fires a shot from long range for Kossa but it drifts wide
11′ Kossa have had a few attacks which have not brought Richard Gillispie in the Waitakere goal into action. It looks like the home side is growing in confidence infront of this huge crowd.
14′ Electric break from Benjamin Totori for Waitakere see’s him breeze past the Kossa defence on the left hand side. His far post cross finds Chris Bale whose shot is easily taken by the Kossa goalkeeper
18′ Reg Davani goes down in the box but referee Rakesh Varman waves play on. A close call
21′ GOAL – KOSSA 1-0 – Joe Luwi opens the scoring for Kossa after James Naka fired a blistering 20 yard strike off the cross bar and Luwi was there to tap it home. Great goal
27′ Joe Luwi runs straight down the middle of the Waitakere defence and fires a hard shot just over the bar. Kossa have made a great start.
34′ The speed of the match has slowed down a little now. Kossa will be very happy with the way they have started but can’t get complacent with their one goal lead. Waitakere are looking dangerous from set pieces.
37′ Innovative play from James Naka outside the waitakere box leads to another chance for Kossa but his shot once again drifts wide. If you give Naka to much space he will punish you. That is the lesson Waitakere are learning.
40′ The crowd is brought back to life by another darting run by James Naka. Waitakere have failed to create a good goalscoring chance in the first half.
41′ GOAL 2-0 KOSSA – Joe Luwi makes it two after a left footed shot from Reginald Davani is spilled by Richard Gillipsie. Luwi was there to turn it home again. The crowd is going crazy
42′ Substitution for Waitakere Jason Hayne replaces Daniel Koprivcic
43′ Long shot from Commins Menapi drifts wide. Waitakere are struggling to get in behind this Kossa defence and have resorted to shooting from distance.
45′ – Halftime – What a performance from Kossa FC in the first half. They have defended professionally and look very dangerous going forward. The combination of Luwi, Davani and Naka is causing the Waitakere back four all kinds of problems. Chris Milicich will have some strong words to say to his side at halftime who have not looked like the side we have seen dominate the NZFC.
46′ Yellow Card to Jason Hayne for Waitakere United for a dangerous challenge.
46′ Yellow card to Reginald Davani for Kossa FC apparently for dissent
49′ GOAL – Waitakere United 2-1 – A Neil Sykes corner is turned in by Jonathan Perry at the far post. A great leap and a good set piece.
52′ Totori goes on a mazy run through the Kossa FC and his shot was blocked by some last ditch Kossa defending. Waitakere look like a different team in this second half.
57′ Kossa fans are trying to lift their team with a rousing rendition of "Go Kossa Go". Waitakere have looked dangerous in this second half with Totori and Menapi coming to life
64′ Totori goes oh so close to latching onto a Waitakere through ball and Kossa goalkeeper Severino Aefi is able to clear the danger
70′ The game has opened up a lot with play now stretching from end to end. There has been a shortage of clear cut chances although Waitakere look closer to adding to the scoring. The crowd is on the edge of their seats, a truly special atmosphere
75′ Kossa need to be careful not to get complacent with the score line. Waitakere have begun to open up the Kossa midfield and it seems there are more goals in this one.
77′ Kossa switch off from a Waitakere United corner and the ball somehow stays out of the net. These Sykes corners are like running a knife through butter and Kossa need to switch on at set plays.
78′ Substitution for Waitakere Hoani Edwards replaces Commins Menapi
79′ Hoani Edwards picks up a yellow card with his first contribution to the game
79′ Jason Hayne makes a dangerous run into the Kossa box but James Naka makes a crucial tackle to stop his progress
81′ James Naka blasts a left footed volley inches wide of Richard Gillespies goal. A close call for Waitakere
81′ Ten minutes to go in this one and both sides look likely to snatch another goal, a really exciting game
82′ Substitution for Waitakere United Allen Pearce replaced by Graheme Pearce, perhaps a sign that Waitakere are content with the 2-1 score line.
83′ James Naka lets fly again from 30 yards and his ambitious shot nearly catches Gillespie out. What a shot!
85′ GOAL – KOSSA 3-1 – NAKA MAKES IT 3-1. Naka sends the Kossa fans into a frenzy with a clinical finish for Kossa as he clips the ball over Gillespie to find the back of the net.
90′ Full time – Honiara is going crazy. Cars can be heard honking, the crowd can be heard for miles around. James Naka has really stolen the show today.
Waitakere will head home needing to overturn a 3-1 scoreline at Trusts stadium on May 11th. A fantastic day for Kossa FC and Solomon Island football.
Squads:
Kossa:; 4. Tome FAISI; 5. Samson TAKAYAMA; 6. Mahlon MAEMANIA;; 10. Francis NEE; 11. Joe LUWI; 13. James NAKA; 15.Seni NGAVA; 16. Paul WALE; 17. Gideon OMOKIRIO; 19. Reginald DAVANI; 21. Severino AEFI;
Subs: 1. John MORGAN; 3. Sam MAENA; 8. Philip ASHLEY; 9. Samson WAAHERO; 12. Roy ENORI; 14. Terry Oiaka; 20. Willie SADE;
Coach: Jacob MOLI (SOL)
Waitakere: 1. Richard Gillispie; 2. Jonathan PERRY; 6. Darren BAZELY;; 8. Commins MENAPI; 9. Benjamin TOTORI; 10. Allen PEARCE; 11. Neil SYKES; 13. Danijel KOPRIVCIC;; 15. Christopher BALE; 16. Neil EMBLEN; 17. Jake BUTLER;
Subs: 5. Danny HAY; 7. Jason HAYNE; 14. Hoani EDWARDS; 20. Jason ROWLEY; 21. Graham PEARCE; 22. Simon EADDY;
Coach: Chris Milicich (NZL)
Referee: Rakesh VARMAN (FIJ)
Assistant Referee 1: Andrew ACHARI
Assistant Referee 2: Mahit CHILIA (VAN)
Fourth Official: Lencie FRED (VAN)