Eleven goals in two matches: Raphael Lea’i scores another double hat-trick as Central Coast take S-League lead

Raphael Lea’i is producing one of the most extraordinary goalscoring runs in Solomon Islands football. Just three days after scoring five times against KOSSA, the 23-year-old international delivered another remarkable performance on Wednesday, November 4, netting six goals as Central Coast FC demolished Ghupo Wantoks 8-1 at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara.

The result took the defending champions to the top of the SIFF Super League standings, level with Green Shield on 35 points but ahead on goal difference, with two games in hand. Yet the biggest story was once again Lea’i, whose astonishing return of eleven goals across two consecutive appearances has reinforced his reputation as one of the country’s most dangerous forwards.

Having already scored five times in Sunday’s 7-0 victory over KOSSA, Lea’i needed just 27 minutes against Ghupo to complete another hat-trick.

He opened the scoring in the 18th minute before doubling Central Coast’s advantage four minutes later. His third arrived in the 27th minute, putting the defending champions in complete control of the contest.

Ghupo briefly responded through Wilfred Mani in the 35th minute, but Central Coast maintained their attacking momentum. Bobby Leslie restored the three-goal cushion in the 40th minute before Lea’i struck again three minutes later, taking his personal tally to four before halftime.

The Solomon Islands international continued his extraordinary performance after the break, scoring in the 61st and 78th minutes to complete his second six-goal display of the 2026 domestic campaign.

Barrie Limoki added Central Coast’s eighth goal in second-half stoppage time, sealing another emphatic victory for Jacob Moli’s side.

The performance was particularly remarkable because Lea’i had already achieved a double hat-trick earlier this season, scoring six times in Central Coast’s 9-0 victory over SOSA FC on September 2.

Combined with his five goals against KOSSA and six against Ghupo, those three matches alone have produced an astonishing 17 goals for the former FK Velež Mostar forward.

His latest performances also represent a dramatic contrast with his experience during the inaugural OFC Professional League season, when he managed just one goal in fifteen appearances for Solomon Kings.

Back at Central Coast, however, Lea’i has rediscovered the devastating finishing ability that made him a standout talent during his teenage years with Henderson Eels.

His resurgence was already evident during the 2026 OFC Men’s Champions League in August, when he scored a memorable hat-trick against Galaxy FC in the semi-finals, including an extra-time winner that sent Central Coast into their first continental final in 17 years.

Now, his goals are proving equally important in the domestic championship.

Central Coast remain unbeaten after thirteen matches, recording eleven victories and two draws. The defending champions have scored 59 goals while conceding only eleven, giving them an impressive goal difference of +48.

Green Shield, who have collected the same 35 points from fifteen matches, now find themselves under considerable pressure as Central Coast possess two games in hand and a significantly stronger attacking record.

The club’s official social media account celebrated Lea’i’s achievement by describing the competition as “Rafa Lea’i’s League”, underlining the forward’s extraordinary influence on their recent performances.

For Central Coast, the combination of Lea’i, Limoki and Leslie has become a formidable attacking weapon, with the three players once again contributing all eight goals against Ghupo.

The challenge now is to maintain that momentum as the defending champions pursue another national title.

For Lea’i, the numbers speak for themselves. Eleven goals in two matches, two double hat-tricks during the season and another unforgettable performance in continental competition illustrate a remarkable return to his best form.

With the 2027 OFC Professional League season approaching and Lea’i expected to return to Solomon Kings, his goalscoring exploits provide an encouraging indication of the attacking quality he could bring back to the professional stage.

For now, however, the Solomon Islands star continues to dominate domestic football, and Central Coast are reaping the rewards.