2009 O-LEAGUE – BA BREAK HEKARI HEARTS AS AUCKLAND ROLL ON

Fijian Champions Ba have moved top equal with Koloale FC in Group B of the OFC O-League after coming back from a goal down to clinch a 2-1 win over Hekari Souths United FC at Port Moresby Rugby League Stadium this afternoon.

Meanwhile in Group A, Auckland City overcame Port Vila Sharks 2-0 to move top equal with Waitakere United in the standings.

The first O-League game ever played in Papua New Guinea got off to a frenetic start, when Abraham Iniga put the home side ahead in the first minute.

His opportunity came courtesy of miscommunication in defense between Jone Sorolo and his backline and allowed Iniga the chance to punch home from close range.

Ba came back almost immediately through former Youngheart Manawatu striker and Fijian international Osea Vakatalesau, whose low drive found the corner of Fred Hale’s net and restored parity.

The remainder of the first half sustained a high tempo, with Hekari enjoying the lion’s share of possession.

Towards the later stages of the first period, both goalkeepers enjoyed the opportunity to shine when each side had favourable chances from corner kicks.

The second half saw the home side deprived of their key midfielder David Muta – who spent the off-season playing semi-professional football for Sunshine Coast FC in Australia – when he was withdrawn due to injury.

The loss allowed Ba back into the fixture, but it was not until the 84th minute where concerted pressure brought a foul on Ba substitute Maciu Dunadamu, who was impressive in replacing Vakatalesau midway through the second half.

Dunadamu then stepped up to score the resulting penalty, which evidently secured a valuable three points and put the Fijians joint-leaders in Group B.

Hekari players slumped to the ground as a collective after four minutes of extra time – their efforts not lost on an appreciate crowd of around 8,000.

Both sides can now look forward to the return fixture on the 14th of February at Govind Park in Ba, Fiji.

Auckland City began life under caretaker coach Paul Posa with a strong performance in the stifling Port Vila heat.

With the mercury tipping 35 degrees centigrade, winning was never going to be a comfortable task for Auckland, but Port Vila defender Fedy Vava made life easier for the visitors when he turned the ball into his own net inside the first ten minutes.

Paul Urlovic effectively settled the match with a goal twenty minutes from time, nipping in front of the Port Vila keeper to finish Matt Williams cross with his knee as Auckland joined Waitakere at the top of Group A on four points from two games each.

Auckland captain Ivan Vicelich was “hot but happy” after the win.

“We got the three points we need and we’re well placed. The conditions, especially the heat, were very difficult but we pressured them into making a mistake for the first goal, and then shut up shot and waited for our chances,” Vicelich said.

“We probably could have sealed it before we did, but in the end we grabbed another goal and got a very good 2-0 away win.

Waitakere currently have their noses in front of Auckland in the race for a spot in the April/May two-legged O-League final by merit of a differential one goal better than City’s.

Both sides have two games left to play with Auckland City entertaining Port Vila at home on February 14, and Waitakere travelling to Vanuatu on March 7 before meeting in a likely group decider at Waitakere’s Douglas Field on March 29.

2009 O-LEAGUE GROUP A

Date: Saturday, 13 December 2008

Kick Off: 15H00 (Local time) 17H00 (NZL T)

Port Vila Sharks (0) 0

Auckland City (1) 2 (Fedy VAVA (OG) 8′; Paul URLOVIC 70′)

Auckland Squad: 1.Ross NICHOLSON [GK]; 3. Matt FRIEL; 5. Matt WILLIAMS; 6. Ki-Hyung LEE; 8. Chad COOMBES (11. Alick MAEMAE 85′); 9. Paul URLOVIC; 10. Grant YOUNG;  15. Ivan VICELICH; 20. Greg UHLMANN; 22. Xavi ROCA; 23. Liam MULROONEY (19. Salesh KUMAR 53′);

Substitutes:2.Nelson SALE ;16. George SURI;

Coach: Paul POSA (NZL)

Yellow Cards: 22. Xavi ROCA 81′; 8. Chad COOMBES 83′; 9. Paul URLOVIC 84′;

Red Cards: None

Port Vila Sharks: 2.Samson OBED; 6. Fedy VAVA; 7. Moise POIDA; 9. Jean Nako NAPRAPOL (11. Etienne MERMER 75′); 10. Richard IWAI (14. Silas NAMATAK 55′); 13. Francois SAKAMA; 15. Roger JOE; 17. Geoffrey Lego GETE; 20. John GARAE [GK]; 23. Fenedy MASAUVAKALO; 25. Jonah TURU (12. Hubert NAKE 62′);

Substitutes: 3. Jacques MAFIL NAWAN; 16. Alphonse QORIG;21. Michell KALTACK;22. Alfred MALAS [GK]; 26. Jeffry NIMANIAN;

Coach: Robert CALVO (VAN)

Yellow Cards: 2. Samson OBED 80′;

Red Cards: None

Referee: Jimmy WRIGHT [NCL]

Assistant Referee 1: Salesh CHAND [FIJ]

Assistant Referee 2: Ashwin KUMAR [FIJ]

Fourth Official: Grey VUKE [VAN]

Referees Assessor: Harry ATISSON [VAN]

OFC Coordinator: George IAPSON [VAN]

Group A Standings:

2009 O-LEAGUE GROUP B

Date: Saturday, 13 December 2008

Kick Off: 15H00 (Local Tim
e) 17H00 (FIJ T)

Hekari Souths United FC (1) 1 (9. Abraham INIGA 1’)

Ba [FIJ] (1) 2 (30. Osea VAKATALESAU 6’; 13. Maciu DUNADAMU 84’)

HEK: 1. Fred HALE [gk]; 4. Cyril MUTA; 5. Brian TUHIANA; 7. Benjamin MELA; 9. Abraham INIGA; 12. David MUTA (11. Joachim WAROI 46′); 13. Andrew LEPANI [c] (18. Ericson KOMENG 61′); 14. Jack SAMANI; 17. Kema JACK; 19. Koriak UPAIGA; 22. Lorima DAU.

Substitutes not used: 2. Tagaya LEPANI; 3. Hamson DANIEL; 8. Michael FOSTER; 20. Gure GABINA [gk]; 21. Brian FENI.

Yellow Cards: 13. Andrew LEPANI 85’

Red Cards: None

Coach: Patrick MNITI (SOL)

BA: 1. Jone SOROLO [gk]; 2. Avinesh SUWAMY; 3. Shalen LAL; 5. Ronil KUMAR; 6. Jone VESIKULA [c]; 9. Josaia BUKALIDI; 11. Alvin SINGH; 12. Pita BALEITOGA; 16. Malakai TIWA; 29. Peni FINAU; 30. Osea VAKATALESAU (13. Maciu DUNADAMU 63′).

Substitutes not used: 4. Maueli KALOU; 7. Tuimasi MANUCA; 10. Ronald LAWRENCE; 22. Kiniviliame TURAGALAILAI; 24. Rinal PRASAD; 26. Joshua WILSON.

Yellow Cards: 11. Alvin SINGH (29′); 12. Pita BALEITOGA 86’;

Red Cards: None

Coach: Yogendra DUTT (FIJ)

Referee: Chris BEATH [AUS]

Assistant Referee 1: Brad HOBSON [AUS]

Assistant Referee 2: Ashley BEECHAM [AUS]

Fourth Official: Job Ponis MINAN [PNG]

Referees Assessor: Pius LETENGE [PNG]

OFC Coordinator: Edward TAULOI [PNG]

Group B Standings: