Hekari Women FC claimed top spot in the Group A with a convincing 9-1 victory over the hometown Henderson Eels to seal their place in the OFC Women’s Champions League Semi-Finals and a fixture with Puaikura FC.
Hekari Women FC entered the fixture knowing that a win by six clear goals would send them to the top of the group heading into the last four, and they wasted no time in going about their task, rattling up the half-a-dozen they needed inside the opening forty-five minutes, after netting twice within the first three minutes.
It took just 61 seconds for Hekari to go in front, Hortance Kimit tapping into the empty net after Henderson Eels goalkeeper Betty Sade had denied her first attempt. Barely a minute later and it was two. The impressive Maria Veronika squared a pass to Phylis Pala and her shot squirmed under Sade and into the goal.
Veronika created the third with a pass across the six-yard box which Sewruwaia Laulaba stabbed home, before a corner was unfortunately turned into her own net by Anna Ellen as Hekari flexed their muscles in a dominating display. At the other end, the Eels did not unduly trouble the Hekari defence, Hekari goalkeeper Betty Sam largely unemployed.
The same could not be said of Sade who made several excellent stops but was unable to prevent Veronika from making it 5-0 after she was left unmarked near the penalty spot to slam home, the same player bringing the half-time tally to six when played through and finishing with a tidy tuck underneath the advancing goalkeeper.
Veronika wasn’t finished with her night’s work and was on hand to create the seventh seven minutes after the restart putting a pass on a plate for substitute Calista Maneo who could not miss from close in. And Veronika made the eighth as well, prodding a simple pass into the path of Maneo, who diverted the ball past Sade for her second of the contest.
Maneo saw a potential hat-trick chalked off as the Assistant Referee adjudged her header to be offside as the Eels struggled defensively, but they did tighten up in the second half and began to string together some sporadic attacking moments as they searched for a first goal of the competition.
They found it with minutes to spare. Nenny Elipas had struck a ninth for Hekari with six minutes to play, but the Eels had the final word. Edith Nari took aim from distance, and her long-range drive deceived the Hekari goalkeeper, the ball swerving past the custodian and into the net for a popular strike.
RESULT
Henderson Eels 1 (Edith NARI 88’)
Hekari Women FC 9 (Hortance KIMIT 2’, Phylis PALA 3’, Seruwaia LAULABA 24’, Anna ELLEN 29’ (og), Maria VERONIKA 30’, 40’, Calista MANEO 52’, 60’, Nenny ELIPAS 84’)
HT 0-6
SEMI-FINALS
Wednesday 7 July
National Stadium, Honiara
16:00 – Hekari Women v Puaikura FC
20:00 – Auckland United v Tafea FC
Photo Credit: OFC Media via Phototek