Warriors qualified for the final with a comprehensive 5-1 dismantling of Western United at Lawson Tama Stadium on Thursday while Koloale booked their spot by defeating Kossa 2-0 at the same venue a day earlier.
Koloale picked up the inaugural S-League national title last month and will complete an historic double if they also win the Championship Series, a knockout competition that kicked off soon after the conclusion of the S-League.
The Men in Green would earn the country’s O-League spot if they can pull off such a feat. The qualification path dictates that the winner of the S-League plays off with their counterparts from the Championship Series for the sought-after place but, if Koloale manage to take out both competitions, there would be no need for such a match to take place.
Solomon Warriors will be determined to make sure that doesn’t happen though and are likely to be in confident mood after sweeping aside Western with ease in their semi-final yesterday.
The Warriors were favourites going into this clash but the margin of victory still came as a surprise to most onlookers.
It didn’t take long for the victors to get into their stride and Kidston Billy had them ahead by the 10th minute. But Western gave as good as they got for much of the first half and were rewarded for their endeavour ten minutes before the break when Coleman Makau found a way past national futsal squad team mate Paul Huia in the Warriors’ goal.
But any hopes Western may have had of getting a result from the game were all but gone by the halftime whistle as two goals in quick succession from Dennis Ifunaoa and Carrol Kakate saw them go into the sheds at 3-1 down.
Western failed to get on the scoresheet again in the second spell and conceded a fourth when Kakate notched his second in the 55th minute. They were finally put out of their misery when Tigi Molea Toata struck the Warriors’ fifth in the dying minutes.
Koloale’s performance in making the final was not quite as impressive and the Men in Green were made to work hard for their victory in a clash of the titans with fellow giants Kossa.
The scores were level at halftime but two quick-fire goals in the second half turned the match on its head and Koloale were in no mood to give up their advantage once they had gotten their noses in front.
The Benjamin Totori-skippered side went ahead when a pinpoint Henry Fa’arado cross found the head of Joses Nawo, who made no mistake in sending the ball past Kossa goalkeeper Severino Aefi and into the net.
It was 2-0 just moments later when young striker Ian Paia underlined his potential by turning on a Totori pass and smashing home to put the game beyond Kossa.
The grand final between Solomon Warriors and Koloale will take place from 3pm on Sunday at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara and will be preceded by the 3rd/4th play-off between Western United and Kossa at 1pm.
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