Nawo scores a brace as Eels draw against Revivors in the Champions League

Malampa Revivors and Henderson Eels were face to face in the second matchday in the OFC Champions League Group B. Both teams were looking for the win as they managed to grab only one point from the previous matchday.

Revivors started the match keeping the ball possession but they are being under pressure as the Solomon Islands side was pressing the ball well. For Eels’ bad luck the Ni-Vanuatu team found the net in their first opportunity as Edwin Bai lobbed the goalkeeper after being assisted by Azariah Soromon in a quick play that started from a goal kick.

Henderson Eels managed to find more space after suffering the goal while Malampa was being successful to present some danger with long balls. Claude Aru was being a key player for Revivors as he was dominating the midfield. He had a chance to score in a free kick but he hit the post. Malampa was being very successful by countering Eels’ offensive actions and the Solomon Islands forwards started to move more in order to make some confusion in the Ni-Vanuatu defense.

It was pointed by Oceania Football Center that Eels’ goalkeeper Desmond Tutu did not have a good debut in the tournament. However the Solomon Islands keeper showed his quality in the first half by making good decisions and saved some shots.

Eels was leaving too much space between their lines and head coach Eddie Marahare noticed it. He called Hudson Felani that came from the bench in the 40th minute to replace Kennedy Watemae. This replacement happened in the right time as the Solomon Islands side has grown inside the match after it.

After a beautiful one-two with Raphael Lea’i, the experienced Joses Nawo found the net to tie the game. Lea’i also had a great opportunity to score Eels’ second goal before the halftime when he was face to face against the opposite goalkeeper Julian Malnaim but the shot went wide.

The second half started the same way the first half ended with Henderson Eels having a better performance and pressing their opponents. After many minutes without any relevant plays, Tuti Zama Tanito crossed from the left and found Joses Nawo’s head to put Eels ahead in the scoreboard. However their happiness did not last long as 17-year-old Armando Ravo scored from inside the box after an amazing play by Edwin Bai. You can check all goals in the video below:

Both teams now have two points in the Group B. Eels will face Lautoka in the third and last matchday while Revivors are going to play against Lae City on Friday.