Nadi visited Nasinu at ANZ Stadium in the eleventh matchweek of Vodafone Premier League – the top-tier of Fijian football – on this Sunday and powerful striker Rusiate Matarerega was the hero of the day for the visitors.
Matarerega started the match on the bench. He came to the pitch in the 38th minute to replace Surjason Sami and he just needed four minutes to open the scoreboard for Nadi. Nasinu managed to equalize in the beginning of the second half but Matarerega found the net again in the 79th minute to put The Jetsetters ahead again. The last goal of the contest was netted by Napolioni Qasevakatini to seal Nadi’s 3-1 win over Nasinu.
Matarerega scored twice against Nasinu
Matarerega and his teammates are in the fourth position in Vodafone Premier League (VPL) with eighteen points in eleven matches. They are currently five points behind league leaders Rewa with three matches to go which means that The Jetsetters still have a slight chance to clinch the league title this year. You can check the current VPL standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.
Current national champions Solomon Warriors faced Isabel United at Lawson Tama Stadiun on this Sunday in the seventh matchweek of 2020 Telekom S-League – the national football league from the Solomon Islands. It was a very special match for Warriors’ head coach William Omokirio as he had the opportunity to face his brother Gideon who coaches Isabel United.
This clash was a very tough one since the early minutes and the nil-nil draw remained until the second half when Dennis Ifunaoa took advantage from a ridiculous mistake by Isabel’s goalkeeper Harold Nauania to score his first goal in the season and to put Solomon Warriors ahead with a beautiful goal from the left wing in the beginning of the second half to give three points to his side.
Dennis Ifunaoa
Despite having beaten their opponents, Solomon Warriors still need to work hard to improve their performance level as they are not playing in the same level that they used to play last year. This victory pushed Warriors back to the second position in the league with thirteen points in six matches. You can check the current league standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.
The eleventh matchweek of 2020 Vodafone Premier League was perfect for Suva. The Capital City Boys smashed Navua by 4-1 at ANZ Stadium and they are now only one point behind current league leaders Rewa.
Remueru Tekiate opened the scoreboard in the first half while Chirstopher Wasasala extended Suva’s lead in the beginning of the second half. The other two goals were netted by veteran Meli Codro to seal the 4-1 win.
Suva’s starting eleven against Navua – Fiji FA Media
Things got even better for Suva because their biggest rivals Rewa were defeated by Labasa at Ratu Cakobau Park which means that only one point separates both teams in the league table. Football fans still have a lot to expect from the current Vodafone Premier League season as Rewa and Suva will clash in the second to last matchweek of the season.
You can check the current Vodafone Premier League standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.
Labasa surprised Rewa at Ratu Cakobau Park to grab three important points in the fight against relegation while Suva’s supporters are very happy with Rewa’s defeat in Vodafone Premier League’s eleventh matchweek.
Ilisoni Lolaivalu opened the scoreboard with a good header after a corner kick taken by Ashnil Raju in the 54th minute. Gabriele Matanisiga equalized for Rewa in the 68th minute but they did not have to celebrate as Lolaivalu scored again three minutes later to seal Labasa’s victory by 2-1.
Lolaivalu scored a brace in Labasa’s win over Rewa – Fiji FA Media
It was a very important result for Labasa as they are now six points ahead bottom placed team Navua with three matches to go which means that Babasiga Lions are almost free from relegation. On the other hand Rewa are still leading the league but now the team coached by Marika Rodu is just one point ahead Suva that are in he second position. You can check the current league standings, results and top scorers by clicking here.
The final spot for the semi-finals of PNG National Soccer League is still uncertain as three teams are battling for the fourth place in the national league. Differently, Lae City, Hekari United and Vitiaz United are already confirmed in the decisive stage of the competition – but this weekend we had the confirmation of Lae City as the minor-premiership winners and also Hekari United’s spot in the next OFC Champions League as Vitiaz United was surprised by Gulf Komara in Port Moresby.
The first match of the day saw Tusbab Stallions needing a win against Morobe Wawens in Lae to confirm their fourth spot. Unfortunately for the team coached by Rachel Wadunah, Francis Isom opened the scoreline for Wawens – but minutes later the youngster Fernando Kuliau scored his first in the season an equalised for Stallions. The result of the match ended up in an 1-1 draw, as Boungainville could not beat Kutubu in the process, the Madang-based side continues ranked fourth in the process, but with the same number of points of Gulf Komara and just one point away FC Boungainville in the standings.
In Port Moresby, Hekari United confirmed their OFC Champions League spot against Morobe United as the important Raymond Gunemba returned to the team after recovering from injury. Unfortuantely for the Morobeans, an own goal from Valentine Nelson put Hekari ahead at the 27th minute of play. The game was very well contested by both sides as Hekari could only confirm their win in the final stages of the game: Nigel Dabinyaba scored from the penalty spot to double the lead at the 76th minute, six minutes later the young Joseph Joe finished a good play from Gunemba to confirm the 3-0 advantage for Hekari United. Dominic Onea was able to pull one back for Morobe United in the injury time, but it proved to be only a consolation goal for his side.
Nigel Dabinyaba and Michael Foster celebrate one of Hekari’s goals – PNGFA Media
In Lae both FC Kutubu and FC Bouganville were unable to score; a 0-0 draw between them kept Kutubu at the bottom of the standings as FCB lost a golden opportunity to enter for the first time in the season the top-four. Despite not being able to win, Boungainville is just one point away Stallions at the fourth – keeping their chances alive to qualify for the semi-final stage of PNG National Soccer League.
The last two matches of the day were played at PNG Football Stadium in Port Moresby; Vitiaz United was once again stunned, this time by Gulf Komara. A very important win for the team coached by David Aua that keep them in the run for a semi-final spot. The second defeat in a row for Vitiaz keep them at third in the league – qualified for the semi-finals, but they were not able to get a spot at the next OFC Champions League. Komara’s goal was scored by the good Ilagi Geno, the 1-0 win is very important for the team as they head to their final game in the regular season tied in points with Tusbab Stallions.
Lae City needed to battle against the surprising Star Mountain;Emmanuel Airem andJacob Sabua scored the two goals of Lae City in Port Moresby, but Pettyshen Elijah scored for STM. The 2-1 win for the Bob Morris-coached side confirmed their minor-premiership win as they have 12 goals in goal advantage ahead of the second place team Hekari United.
Lae City confirmed their favouritism against Star Mountain – PNGFA Media
Two more matches were played this Sunday on Honiara for the seventh matchweek of football of Telekom S-League. Laugu United continued their good run win an important win over Honiara City while the current league champions Solomon Warriors had to fight hard to surpass the good team of Isabel United.
Jeffery Bule scored the first goal of the game in favour of Laugu United against Honiara at the 16th minute of play; only in the second half more goals were scored in the clash as the same Bule doubled Laugu’s lead by adding another to his tally. The impressive Gagame Feni scored the third for Laugu to confirm their win; the experienced Moffat Kilifa was able to pull one back for the team coached by Jerry Allen, but that proved to be only a consolation goal for Honiara City. Laugu capitalised through Honiara City mistakes to collect more three points – sitting third in the table at the moment while their opponents of the day are fifth.
Gagame Feni (right) scored one of Laugu goals in the win over Honiara City – TSL Media
The current national league champions Solomon Warriors recovered from their defeat in the last weekend against Henderson Eels with a narrow 1-0 win over Isabel United. The team coached by William Omokirio is now five points away Eels at the top of the table after this important win at Lawson Tama Stadium.
The only goal of the encounter came through the important Dennis Ifunaoa, his first of the season, after a defensive mistake from Isabel United at the 51th minute of play. The Gideon Omokirio’s Isabel United is still to impress in the season as they were seem before the start of the national league as a possible title contender, but currently they are only ranked ninth out of eleven teams.
Dennis Ifunaoa scored the winner for Warriors – The Island Sun
The Sunday of football was thrilling throughout Fiji; surprises and important matches for the outcome of the national league made the final run – as just three rounds are missing for the end of the Vodafone Premier League season – even more contested.
Nadi played against Nasinu at ANZ Stadium and they took the lead thanks to a goal of the striker Rusiate Matarerega, but Nasinu managed to find an equaliser through the experienced Nasoni Mereke. But in the final part of the game Matarerega added another to his tally to give the lead back to Nadi – Napolioni Qasevakatini gave final numbers to the scoreline adding the third for the Jetsetters; more three valuable for Nadi as they have 18 in the table now, Nasinu stands just one point the bottom-ranked Navua with eight.
An important win for Nadi – Fiji FA Media
In Ba the Men in Black played against the Ravinesh Kumar coached-side Lautoka, but both teams could not find the net in the this encounter. The closest they get was through the Solomon Islander Darold Kakasi, the attacker had a golden chance from the penalty spot, but it went wasted the goalkeeper Joela Biuvanua saved the kick.
Ba continues ranked third in the league two points away the second place Suva and three points the leaders Rewa; Lautoka is not in a good moment in the season as they keep in their non-winning streak, The Blues are ranked fifth with 13 points.
The Capital City Boys continue their good run as they overcome Navua by 4-1. The team coached by Babs Khan is now just one point away the leaders Rewa as the Delta Tigers could not avoid a defeat against Labasa. At ANZ Stadium, Remueru Tekiate opened the scoreline for the home side in the first half; the party continued as the forward Christopher Wasasala doubled Suva’s lead in the second. Meli Codro also scored in the match, twice, a good performance for the Fijian international – as the match was already 4-0 in favour of the home team, Navua pulled one back through Sharad Kumar, but that was not enough to start a reaction for the Navuans.
Suva gets back to the title race as they cut three points deficit from Rewa at the top of table; Navua will need to recover in the season if they want to avoid relegation – they continue at the bottom of the rankings with only seven points, but Nasinu is just ahead of them in the run with eight.
Suva is back to the business – Fiji FA Media
The most important match of the day saw Labasa taking on the leaders Rewa at Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori. The team commanded by Ronil Lal was determined to finish their bad run as they were able in the last weekend to collect their first win in a long period against Nasinu. Rewa was four points ahead the second place Suva, on the verge of first ever national league title, willing to continue their good run in order to maintain their advantage.
All goals of the clash game in the second half; Ilisoni Lolaivalu opened the scoreline in favour of the Babasiga Lions at the 54th minute of play. The good midfielder Gabriele Matanisiga leveled the scoreline for Rewa at the 68th minute, but Lolaivalu fate was to be the hero of Labasa in the day as in the 77th minute he secured the winner for his side in a very good performance of the Babasiga Lions.
Lolaivalu (11) celebrates his goal – Fiji FA Media
The win give Labasa a relief as they were in a complicated situation battling against the relegation; now they are six points away Navua at the bottom of the table – Vodafone Premier League’s last placed side is the only team to be relegated. Rewa continues at the top of the table, but now only one point away Suva. The next three rounds of football in Fiji will be very thrilling for the football fans in the country.
The 2020 Mobil Super Ligue reached its sixth round this weekend and things keep getting worse for AS Mont-Dore, one of the most important teams from New Caledonia as they are in the relegation play-off zone.
AS Mont-Dore suffering a goal against Horizon Patho – Mobil Super Ligue Media
Their last match was a complete disaster as they were deservedly smashed by AS Wetr by 4-0 at Stade Numa Daly on this Saturday. This match exposed the fragility of a team that is used to be one of the strongest teams in the league.
Solomon Islands’ youngster Ali Mekawir is living a bright moment in his career as he is scoring a good amount of goals for Langney Wanderers in England. After making history in English FA Cup, the 20-year-old forward now wrote his name in FA Vase – a national cup for teams that are playing in 9th, 10th or 11th tier of English football.
Langney Wanderers received Eastbourne United at Priory Lane in the First Round of the Cup. Eastbourne United had a powerful start by scoring two goals in fifteen minutes but it was not enough to discourage Wanderers. Ali Mekawir scored Langney’s first goal in the 19th minute and Harry Ducatel found the net two minutes later to equalize (2-2).
Callum Sheriff scored in the final minutes of the first half to put Wanderers ahead while Trey Masikini scored the last goal of the contest to seal the 4-2 win. Wanderers will face Epsom & Ewell FC or Bridon Ropes FC on October 10 in the second round of 2020-21 FA Vase.
With just three matchweeks to go in the 2019-20 PVFA Premier League in Vanuatu, four teams are fighting against relegation this season – Mauwia, Sia-Raga, Tupuji Imere and Yatel – and football fans must expect breathtaking moments in the final weeks of the season.
Despite having some good players like Frank Ruben, Lucien Hinge and Malakai Makito, Yatel lost their last two league matches and they are now in a dangerous position in the table. The team coached by Kiki Hinge will have two important clashes in the upcoming weeks against Sia-Raga and Mauwia and losing these matches is not an option.
Yatel are fighting against relegation in 2019-20 PVFA Premier League – Vanuatu Sports News
Tupuji Imere are living an atypical season and they are currently in the fifth position with eleven points – two points ahead Mauwia, Sia-Raga and Yatel. However, the team coached by David Chilia is in trouble as they are going to face the top three teams in the league (Galaxy, Ifira Black Bird and Tafea) in their final three matches.
With many young players in the squad, Sia-Raga are living a very difficult moment in the season and relegation might be a reality for them as they do not win a league match since the fourth matchweek of the season. The clashes against Mauwia and Yatel are going to be decisive for the yellow team.
After beating Tupuji Imere by 2-0 on this Saturday, Mauwia showed that they are not dead in the league and their chances to stay in PVFA Premier League for the next season are real. They have showed some improvement on defense and it might be a gamechanger for the red side in the final weeks of the season.
It is important to remember that the bottom placed team will be relegated to PVFA First Division – the second tier of football in Port Vila – while the seventh placed team will face Seveners United from First Division in a play-off match to decide which team will be in the next PVFA Premier League. You can check the current Premier League standings by clicking here.
Oceania Football Center 