A stunning hat-trick from Brazilian forward Willian Dos Santos Medina has secured Galaxy FC’s place in the semi-finals of the OFC Men’s Champions League with a 3-1 victory over Lae City FC.
Both sides had registered impressive 4-1 wins on the competition’s opening day and were keen to build momentum as they looked towards the final four.
It was Galaxy FC who started the better of the two teams, but chances were at a premium, with the Vanuatu side restricted to speculative crosses from out wide – unable to trouble goalkeeper Ronald Warisan.
Lae City in contrast struggled to get a foot on the ball in the early stages, but when they did, they made it count – opening the scoring against the run of play. An excellent free-kick curled into the area from Langarap Samol was met by a dominant header from Charles Hayes, beating goalkeeper Michael Laulae to the ball and opening the scoring.
As to be expected, Galaxy responded well, with the contest carrying a bit of edge throughout the opening 45 minutes. The Brazilian duo of Willian Dos Santos Medina and Roberson Dos Santos Ribiero were the main threats and it was the latter who almost restored parity – Ribiero’s effort from range beating Warisan but cannoning back off the crossbar.
His compatriot Medina had better luck shortly after. The forward latching on to a long ball over the top from Tasso Jeffrey – beating the offside trap before expertly lifting his effort over Warisan and finding the net to make it 1-1 going into the half-time break.
Galaxy picked up where they left off after the interval, with Medina the main man. The Brazilian had an early half-chance, hooking an effort wide from an awkward angle following a corner kick.
Lae City should have retaken the lead not long after when Solomon Kamake was played through on goal, only for the forward to hit the side netting having done the hard work in rounding the goalkeeper.
They were made to pay for such profligacy and to no surprise it was Medina who did the damage.
The Brazilian gave Galaxy the lead in the 69th minute, racing onto a through ball from Ribiero, before prodding an effort past the poorly positioned Warisan.
A minute later and the two combined again – Ribiero flicking a header on to Medina, who controlled the ball before cutting inside his marker and calmly rolling his effort into the far corner – completing his hat-trick and making it six goals in two games in the Champions League.
Medina was almost unstoppable and Galaxy looked like adding to their lead any time they attacked the Lae City goal, but the Papua New Guineans were able to hold on.
They even threatened to get back into the match, with Gorden Mark coming close with a low effort that thudded off the base of the post following a sweeping counter-attack.
Galaxy were fairly unthreatened otherwise and held on comfortably for the win and a place in the semi-finals. With Medina leading the line, they will take some stopping.
Lae City FC: 1 (Charles HAYES 13′)
Galaxy FC: 3 (William DOS SANTOS MEDINA 40′, 69′, 70′)
HT: 1-1
Photo Credit: OFC Media via Phototek