South Island United have all but assured themselves a place in the Leaders Group, coming from behind to defeat Solomon Kings FC 2-1 at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
The victory pushes them up to third on the Pro League table with 20 points and a game in hand still to play, squeezing the Kings out of the top four.
At one stage the Solomon Kings looked on course for the three points themselves, but two second-half goals, including a late winner from super-sub Rovu Boyers turned the contest in South Island United’s favour – emulating their dramatic comeback win over Vanuatu United FC in Suva just six days prior.
The Pro League’s joint top-goalscorer, Ryan Feutz, unusually missed a huge chance early, firing over the crossbar after Phillip Mango had given the ball away inside his own penalty box. Haris Zeb powered an effort into the side-netting moments later too, as South Island United made the brighter start.
They were made to pay for those missed opportunities though; Jez Lofthouse capitalizing on a defensive error to squeeze between Jackson Manuel and Christian Gray and nudge the ball into the bottom-right corner for the opening goal in the 23rd minute.
Backed by the majority of the crowd, Lofthouse turned and celebrated in front of the Solomon Kings fans in the stands for his fourth goal of the season.
A lack of authority at the back almost caught out South Island United again, when Rafa Le’ai forced Steven Van Dijk into a stop at his near post soon after.
Lofthouse’s goal remained the difference at the start of the second-half, as South Island United pushed for a route back into the contest. They thought they’d found a response quickly out of the blocks when David Yoo found the back of the net in the 49th minute, only for it to be ruled out by the officials for offside.
Zeb came close again too, forcing Mango into a strong save at his near post after making a run down the left-hand side of the defence.
With their top four hopes fading, Rob Sherman threw Rovu Boyers into the action up front for the final half hour and it proved the catalyst for the comeback.
Mango pulled off another stop to deny Feutz, before Gray squandered the rebound wide of the right post from point-blank range.
Gray wasn’t to miss a second time though, finally snatching the equaliser for his side with his first goal of the season in the 69th minute, after latching onto a miscued shot from Josh Rogerson from close range.
With momentum in their favor, it seemed a matter of time before South Island United completed their comeback. Boyers was the man to do it in the 81st minute, smashing the ball into the back of the net on his right foot following a set-piece delivery off the right flank – scoring the winner and his sixth goal of the season.
It’s a crushing result for Solomon Kings, ending their Leaders Group hopes unless results elsewhere go their way, and a five-goal swing pushes them above Bula FC tomorrow.
And whilst it doesn’t completely assure them of a top four spot, with Bula FC and Tahiti United also in the mix, South Island United will feel a lot more comfortable ahead of their North v South Island New Zealand derby against league leaders Auckland FC in Ba next Tuesday.
South Island United: 2 (Christian GRAY 69’, Rovu BOYERS 81’)
Solomon Kings FC: 1 (Jez LOFTHOUSE 23’)
HT: 0-1
Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek