KOSSA LEAD GROUP B WITH CONVINCING WIN

Kossa FC went to the top of Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) O-League Group B after it defeated Ba 2-0 in front of a crowd of 12,000 at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara today.

An own goal by Malakai Kainihewe after 7 minutes and a second from Solomon Islands international and FIFA Beach Soccer hero James Naka after 10 minutes set the tone for Kossa and the home
crowd.

Ba created a raft of chances hitting the Kossa woodwork on four occasions. But that lack of sharpness in front of goal ultimately cost the Fijian champions a share of the spoils.

Kossa coach Jacob Moli was delighted with the result.

“I was very pleased with the way our back four played.  We kept a good shape, were organised and disciplined.

Samson Takayama had a very good game particularly as he is recovering from malaria.

Ba is not out of the race yet, I thought they played very well today and showed they are a very good team.”

Kossa face a full week of DJ Graphics League fixtures at Lawson Tama Stadium after a four month lay-off.

Ba coach Yogendra Dutt was naturally disappointed by the result.

“I said in the press conference before the game that this is a very different Ba team than the one we brought to Honiara last time.

We have six or seven players that have moved on to other clubs and I think you can see the difference.

We need Tafea and Kossa to draw now to have any chance of making the final.

But I think our replacement goalkeeper Jone Sorolo had a very good game and was the equal of Laisenia Tuba [who was out injured],” Dutt said.

2008 OFC O-LEAGUE

GROUP B

KOSSA FC (SOL) vs. BA (FIJ)

LAWSON TAMA STADIUM

HONIARA

SOLOMON ISLANDS

KOSSA: 20. Severino AEFI [gk]; 4. Tome FAISI; 5. Samson TAKAYAMA; 6. Mahlon MAEMANIA; 10. Franco NE’N (12. Roy ENORI 90+); 11. Joe LUWI; 13. James NAKA; 14. Reginald DAVANI;
15. Seni NGAVA; 16. Paul WALE (22. Willie SADE. 77’); 17. Gideon OMOKIRIO.

CAUTIONS: 14. Reginald DAVANI 90+’.

RED CARDS: None

SUBS: 1. John MORGAN; 3. Sam MAENA; 8. Phillip ASHLEY; 9. Samson WAAHERO;

Coach: Jacob MOLI (SOL)

BA: 18. Jone SOROLO [gk]; 2. Avinesh SWAMY; 3. Shalen LAL; 6. Jone VESIKULA; 7. Tuimasi MANUCA (5. Rinal PRASAD 78’); 8. Keni DOIDOI; 9. Josaia BUKALIDI; 10. Ronald CHANDRA;
13. Kiniviliame TURAGALAILAI (12. Niumaia TAGI 60’); 16. Malakai TIWA; 17. Malakai KAINIHEWE.

CAUTIONS: 13. Kiniviliame TURAGALAILAI 43’; 2. Avinesh SWAMY 89’.

RED CARDS: None

SUBS: 1. Epeli CODRO; 15. Manoa MASI.

Coach: Yogendra DUTT (FIJ)

Referee: Peter GREEN (AUS)

Assistant Referee 1: Alexander GLASGOW (AUS)

Assistant Referee 2: Michael NUGUS (AUS)

Fourth Official: Andrew MOLI (SOL)

2008 OFC O-LEAGUE

GROUP B

STANDINGS – 25.02.08