Raphael Lea’i’s club FK Velež Mostar is making waves in the Bosnian football scene after securing a place in the Bosnian Cup final. The team’s recent win against FK Željezničar in the semifinals was a thrilling and hard-fought match that saw Velež overcome the odds to secure a 2-1 victory away from home.
Although Velež conceded an early goal, the team showed remarkable resilience and managed to equalize soon after. In the second half, Nemanja Anđušić scored a crucial goal that ultimately gave Velež the win. While Raphael Lea’i came off the bench in the injury time of the second half, he did not have much time to make an impact on the game. Nonetheless, his presence on the pitch is a testament to his team’s depth and versatility. The Solomon Islands international is being constantly coming from the bench in the previous matches of his side – already contributing with one assist in his last game.
With this win, Velež now faces their city rivals, Zrinjski Mostar, in the final next month. This match is set to be a highly anticipated event, as it pits two of the biggest rivals in Bosnia and Herzegovina against each other. Velež, as the defending champions of the Bosnian Cup, will be looking to retain their title and make history by winning the cup for the second consecutive season.
Oceania Football Center 