In the Men’s 2nd Division, Atu’u easily held on to their hardware after a 4-1 win over Vaitogi United.
Black Roses had a scare against Kiwi Soccers in their second cup challenge match on 31 August as they trailed 1-0 before a last second shot from beyond the penalty box by Angela Sao sailed over the head of the goalie for the equalizer.
DIVISION 1
TAFUNA JETS 3, PAGO YOUTH A 1 (NATIONAL CUP)
The last time Pago Youth A lost a National League match was 22 August, 2009, a 1-0 loss to the Black Roses. In fact that was their second loss in a row after losing 3-2 against Fagasa Youth on 15 August.
They then won their next two games before the competition was prematurely halted due to the earthquake and tsunami on 29 September, 2009. From 12 September, 2009 until 24 August, 2013, Pago Youth went on a tear with a record of 31-3-0 in National League games.
They lost in the separate President’s Cup tournaments but in terms of National League games, they racked up 31 wins, three draws and zero losses, until they faced the Tafuna Jets on 31 August.
On 31 August the Jets shocked Pago A with a 3-1 win in a game dominated by the defending champs. In other games last Saturday it was FC SKBC 1, Lion Heart 0; Taputimu Youth 2, Black Roses 1 and Utulei Youth 5, Pago Youth B 0.
Pago A had possession of the ball the majority of the match and also won the territorial contest, racking up minute after minute on Tafuna’s side of the field. But what they could not do was shake Jets’ goalie KB Mariota from showcasing one of his best performances minding the net.
He punched shots on goal away, dove on loose balls and even hugged point blank shots at goal. He made only one blemish, allowing a shot by Alatina Vaiali’i in with less than five minutes to play for a 2-1 score.
Taylor Faumuina did enough on the attack to secure their first win against Pago A in like forever in an 11-a-side competition, scoring twice and helping to set up the other goal. Faumuina scored in the 21st minute and then set up Viliamu Tausolo with a routine tap in for a 2-0 lead midway through the last half.
After Vaiali’i scored Taylor launched a 30-yard shot that just beat out goalie Chin-Fu Ta’ase for the game’s finaly tally of 3-1.
Lion Heart will challenge for the cup this coming Saturday.
WOMEN’S DIVISION
BLACK ROSES 1, KIWI SOCCERS 1 (ROUND 4)
Regina Wright blasted a PK to give Kiwi a 1-0 lead midway through the second half and with the clock ticking down to zero it looked as if there was going to be a new cup holder.
However, Angela Sao collected the ball 10 yards into Kiwi territory, looked up once and saw the goalie cheating up a bit and then blasted a shot that just missed the keeper’s outstretched hands and going into the back of the net just two seconds to full time.
That equalizer helped Black Roses retain the cup yet again after beating Atu’u Broncos 6-1 earlier that day during their round 3 match.
Other games in round 3 were Ilaoa & To’omata 1, Tafuna Jets 0; Kiwi 3, PanSa 0; Green Bay 3, Lion Heart 0 and Utulei 3, Pago Youth 0 in a forfeited match.
Other games in round 4 were Green Bay 4, PanSa 3, Jets 1, Atu’u 1; Utulei Youth 5, Lion Heart 0 and Ilaoa & To’omata 3, Pago Youth 0 in a forfeited match.
Pago Youth, after forfeiting their round 3 game, was officially out of the competition after accumulating two forfeits in the same competition.
The Jets will challenge for the cup in round 5 on Saturday, September 7 and should Black Roses retain it Green Bay will challenge in round 6. If the Jets win they will hold it for the rest of the day as they are scheduled to play Pago Youth in round 6.
DIVISION 2
ATU’U BRONCOS 4, VAITOGI UNITED 1 (NATIONAL CUP)
Desmond Tupai helped Atu’u retain the Division 2 National Cup by scoring twice against Vaitogi United.
By the end of the first half they were up 2-0 before closing it out 4-1 despite losing one player to a red card.
Vaiala Tongan will challenge Atu’u for the cup this coming Saturday.
In other Division 2 games it was PanSa 6, Green Bay 0 and Vaiala Tongan 3, Ilaoa & To’omata 2.