The sixth round of 2019 S-League was played this weekend in Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara. Four matches were played and 15 goals were scored. Solomon Warriors didn’t play because they were on a bye this round. Let’s check what happened on each match!
Henderson Eels 2-0 Real Kakamora
After a 0-0 first half Hudson Felani scored for Eels in the beginning of second half. The win was sealed in the late minutes with a Shadrack Dola’s goal. Henderson Eels remains on top of the league with six wins in six matches while Real Kakamora stands on bottom with five losses in five matches.
The Eels are unbeaten on top. Picture: Carlos Aruafu
Laugu United 4-0 Isabel United
Laugu showed its superiority since the first minutes to beat Isabel United by 4-0. Number 10 Atkin Kaua scored twice while George Apani and Geoffrey Ofotalau scored the other goals for Honiara’s team.
Kossa 4-1 Marist
Barie Limoki’s first minute goal led Kossa to win their fourth match in S-League. Now Kossa stands as fourth after overtaking Marist in the table.
Guadalcanal 0-4 Malaita Kingz
With a fantastic performance by Edward Huniuehu, Malaita Kingz smashed Guadalcanal by 4-0 to remain as third place in the table. Huniuehu’s hat-trick pushed him to third place in top goalscorers ranking alongside Molea Tigi from Solomon Warriors.
Malaita Kingz squad
Take a look in the current full league standings and the goalscorers:
Round Six Standings
Top Scorers 🇻🇺 Tony Kaltack (Solomon Warriors) – 9 🇸🇧 Joses Nawo (Henderson Eels) – 6 🇸🇧 Molea Tigi (Solomon Warriors) – 5 🇸🇧 Edward Huniuehu (Malaita Kingz) – 5
Solomon Islands National Futsal Team faced higher ranked Australia twice this weekend in two breathtaking matches played in Sydney and Canberra. Kurukuru lost both games but really impressed people by pushing Futsalroos to their limit.
In the first match, Kurukuru ended the first half leading by 2-1 with a fantastic performance but the hosts took the lead and won by 4-3.
Kurukuru pushed Australia to its limit in both matches
In the second match, Kurukuru regrouped from a very tough first half which Futsalroos lead by 1-0 to control almost the whole second half. The scoreline was at 3-1 to Australia courtesy of a Jeffery Bule strike to close the gap. In a rampage yet very constructive show from Kurukuru, the game was turned on its head as Kurukuru totally dominated the second half.
Elliot Ragomo came really close with an overhead kick but sailed inches over the crossbar. A goal was disallowed by the referee although Kurukuru players were all claiming it. Indeed, these moments showed just how close the team came on causing a major upset.
The second match that caught many of the local fans as the name of Jack Wetney was called out by the commentator. Solomon Islands Kurukuru’s head coach, Vinicius Leite called up Jack Wetney and asked him to feature in this match as a respect to this player who now currently resides in Australia and haven’t been in the Kurukuru squad for over four years.
Wetney playing for Kurukuru against Brazil in 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cup
“Tonight was special because I am not really in the best shape but the coach showed me great respect and allowed me to feature. I am so humbled by this call. I think the boys are on another level and I am without a doubt believe in these guys that they will qualify for the world cup. The team is full of fighters. Last time, we have amazing teams but only some were fighting. The current boys are all fighters. I’m impressed indeed. I will train and wish the boys all the best in the qualifiers. If we qualify, I will see how I go with fitness and stuff, I will come and train with the team. I feel like one more world cup is in me but it depends entirely on how well I get myself prepared.” Wetney said.
OFC Futsal World Cup Qualifiers will be held in New Caledonia between 27 October and 2 November. The winner will play 2020 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Lithuania.
It is always a good feeling when the new season starts, for everyone involved: players, fans, staff and media. The Port Vila Premier League new season just started for the general happiness of the people in Vanuatu that will have the chance to watch the Brazilian new imports of ABM Galaxy – the midfielder Roberson and the forward Gabriel – and the top quality local players as Kensi Tangis, Bong Kalo and Jordy Tasip.
But to perform well sometimes not only good coaching and good skills are enough; you will need a proper venue to play and show what you are capable. Without this football is not that pretty and neither reaches the development it is always necessary pursue.
The three matches played last Saturday – 12th October – for Premier League in Port Vila were held at Port Vila Stadium. The fans could see the emphatic win of ABM Galaxy and the personal show of Jordy Tasip to secure Tafea a season opener win. But it could be even better, much better: the conditions of the pitch were neither close of reasonable for the practice of football.
It is understandable this is only the start of the new season in the most known league of Vanuatu, but the pitch conditions need to improve abundantly so the well-known players for their great technique can show it well in the game and also give the chance for the young players to improve in a proper quality pitch.
It is also understandable the difficulties the federations face to keep the football running all over Oceania. But it is important to keep in mind there are needs that come first and to keep the pitch quality good is one of the most important.
The OFC Olympic Qualifiers was surely a very intense competition that spotlighted the most entertaining young prospects of the Oceania region. Some were not so known of the public, another ones already capped at their senior national teams battled for a spot at Tokyo 2020 Olympics’ Football Tournament.
The grand final match that decided the winner of the spot in the Olympics was last 5th October when New Zealand sealed their favouritism after beating Solomon Islands. The competition that was entirely held in Fiji – at ANZ Stadium in Suva and Churchill Park in Lautoka – had 84 goals scored (5.25 per match) and many young players could give themselves a chance to show their skills at continental stage.
New Zealand and Solomon Islands made the finals – both coming from Group A that also had American Samoa and Samoa – while Vanuatu claimed the 3rd spot in the competition after beating Fiji by 1-0 in the 3rd/4th match game decider. The Ni-Vanuatu were the winners of Group B but they could not win Solomon Islands in the semifinals; the runners-up of Group B, Fiji, where heavily beaten by New Zealand in the other semifinal match by 6-1. Tonga and Papua New Guinea were the teams that completed the Group B.
After a very important tournament, that caught the attention of all football fans in Oceania, Oceania Football Center presents their ‘Team of Tournament’. The players were chosen democratically after one week of discussion among members of the Oceania Football Center group.
🇻🇺 Daniel Alick was the goalkeeper who less conceded goals in the tournament – with important stops helped Vanuatu to earn the 3rd place. During the whole tournament, Alick was very consistent.
🇳🇿 Liberato Cacace was an important player for the title winners, providing three assists during the tournament and being very solid at the left side.
🇳🇿 Billy Jones was the best New Zealand central back in the competition, even scoring one goal in the tournament. The US-based player shown solid performances and a huge future.
🇻🇺 Jason Thomas, the Vanuatu captain, was a great leader inside the pitch. Very calm with the ball and with perfect tackles, Vanuatu suffered only two goals in the tournament. Thomas was also a danger upfront with long range shots and powerful headers.
🇳🇿 Callan Elliot was very solid at the right wing for the title winners. The Wellington Phoenix player also helped upfront with a goal in the semifinal game against Fiji. Quick thinker, the youngster proves he has everything to be a future All White.
🇳🇿 Clayton Lewis had a fantastic tournament: scored three times and also provided six assists. The classical number 10 is technically gifted player, having in his left foot lot of talent to spread.
🇻🇺 Bong Kalo keeps proving himself as one of the most talented islanders. The ABM Galaxy midfielder scored three times in the competition and was the responsible for creating the most of the attacking plays of Vanuatu.
🇸🇧 Augustine Waita was inarguably the best player of Solomon Islads in the competition. The Henderson Eels attacking midfielder was the top-scorer of his with five. His pace was the key factor to cause trouble to the opposition defensive systems.
🇳🇿 Ben Waine is proving once more he is one of the best young prospects all over Oceania. The forward was the player who got most involved in goals with 8 goals scored and 7 assists provided.
🇳🇿 Myer Bevan destroyed all defenses he played against! The new Auckland City player scored no less than 12 goals in 5 matches played (2,4 goals per game).
🇳🇿 Logan Rogerson showed lots of techinique and also scored four times for his country in the competition. The OlyWhites captain was always a danger to the opposition defenses due his skills and intelligence moving and combining with his teammates.
The Oceania Football Center also chose among the outstanding players of the competition who would the Most Valuable Player – the best player of the tournament – and the decision goes as follows:
The Scunthorpe United midfielder Clayon Lewis was voted the MVP of the tournament for Oceania Football Center. The New Zealand U23 captain controlled the actions in the midfield and was the link between defense and attack. When you have the ability to control the midfield, your chances to win are much more higher and you have the possibilty to create more opportunities to score. Lewis reflect this inside the pitch, having the most of the attacking plays of his team starting from his feet.
The Wellington Phoenix could not secure a positive result at their first match in the 2019/20 A-League season after a 1-0 defeat against the newcomers Western United FC. The New Zealand based club had chances to draw or even win the match but could not find the nets of their former goalkeeper Filip Kurto.
The Wellington Phoenix starting lineup vs. Western United
Ufuk Talay promoted seven debuts in the pick of starting team for the season opener: Stefan Marinovic, Luke DeVere, Matt Steinmann, Ulisses Dávila, Callum McCowatt, Jaushua Sotirio and David Ball. During the game the All-White Tim Payne also made his A-League debut alongside Junior Socceroos Reno Piscopo.
The ISPS Handa Premiership Golden Boot winner Callum McCowatt made his debut for Phoenix.
The English forward David Ball had a very good chance in the first half but the ball just passed near the post. Wellington kept a good defensive shape while Stefan Marinovic just made some easy stops. The young prospect Liberato Cacace hit a 30-meters shot that made the opposition goalkeeper to make a brilliant defense. But, at the 34th minute, a lapse of concentration of Phoenix defense allowed the veteran striker Besart Berisha to find nets unmarked inside the 6-yard box.
Besart Berisha celebrates his goal
Wellington Phoenix fighted hard to bounce back in the second half and created decent chances to score. The addition of Tim Payne in the place of Louis Fenton at the Right Back position increased the fire power in the wings. David Ball was replaced by the youngster Reno Piscopo that showed some quality coming from behind as an attacking midfielder, while one of the New Zealand top prospects, Ben Waine, had a very important with a header that was close to the goal.
Ulisses Dávila, the Number 10 and former Chelsea FC midfielder, had a fantastic chance to score in the injury time with an indirect free-kick inside the penalty box. Unfortunately, the Mexican could not find the target and the game ended up with the first defeat of the season for the New Zealand side. Dávila is one of the highest hopes of Phoenix for season, but in this match against Western United the fans have all reasons to be dissapointed.
The Nix will be playing next Sunday – 20th October – their second match in A-League 2019/20 against the title holders Sydney FC at Leichhardt Oval, 8pm NZT.
The so waited grand final match of the Inter-District Championship was a real battle between Suva and Labasa. After a hard win against Ba in the semifinals, the Capital Boys promised a huge fight against Labasa, the current Battle of Giantes champions that smashed Nadi with a 5-0 win in their semifinal match.
A lot of rain marked the final in the Prince Charles Park, in Nadi. The quality of the game was surely influenced with the pitch conditions to the heavy rains in the ground, what forced the players to battle harder for the balls to put themselves in forward positions.
The rain affected the quality of the football displayed at Prince Charles Park
Both Suva and Labasa had the chances to score in the game but the accuracy was no there. A match marked for much fight from the teams had to go to the extra-time when a certain player made the difference.
Dennis Ifunaoa was the scorer of a stuning goal to give Labasa the IDC trophy
It is always nervous to go to an extra-time, especially in a final game of an important tournament. But in the first minute of the extra-time, the substitute and Solomon Islands international Dennis Ifunaoa scored a superb goal, that found the left top-corner of Suva goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau. After so much fight from both sides – Labasa to defend its lead and Suva to find a goal to equalise – the game ended up in 1-0 win for the Babasiga Lions having Ifunaoa was the hero of the day.
The Labasa FC starting eleven for the IDC final against Suva FC
This is the 5th title of the Inter-District Championship for Labasa, that had his last trophy in the competition in 2016.
The Lions had a very fine season, winning as the Battle of Giants tournament and turning themselves in one of the top teams in Fiji at moment.
Navua has done it again! The 2019 Fiji Senior League winners complete the double and win the Inter-District Championship 2019 – Senior Division.
Navua made a fantastic season and will play next year Vodafone Fiji Premier League and also the Fijian Cups as a first-tier team. They have beaten by 1-0 Nadroga in the grand final with a late goal coming in the 82th minute from Alfred Ali.
Navua FC Champions’ Team Picture
Navua is reaching some fast success in the previous two seasons: as mentioned, the team got promoted from the Fijian second-tier to the Premier League in the current season and in 2018 they also won the IDC – Senior Division title.
The 2019 edition was decided at the final minutes against Nadroga – Navua had beaten Lami to reach the finals while Nadroga surpassed Savusavu. In 2018 both teams also made the grand final of the Inter-District Champions – Senior Division and Navua also ended up with the trophy, beating Nadroga by 2-0.
The unique full professional football team of Oceania starts their run at A-League – Australian football top tier – 2019/20 season against the newcomers Western United playing at home ground in Wellington.
The Phoenix will be facing a very harsh challenge to receive back their former coach Mark Rudan after his polemical departure at the end of the last seaosn. Rudan accepted a deal with the new A-League franchise Western United and rumours emerged after some important Wellington Phoenix players – that made a very good season under Rudan coaching – decided not to sign a new contract with the New Zealand based club and followed Rudan steps to his new team. Former Wellington Phoenix captain, Andrew Durante, moved to Western United alongisde other very important players as Max Burgess and the A-League best goalkeeper of the year, Filip Kurto.
Under Rudan, Phoenix could bounce back after several season without competing at the Playoffs – finishing in a qualifying position, but lost their at the first stage against Melbourne Victory – and increased their fans hopes. Rudan surprisingly said he needed to leave Wellington due family problems – not keeping at the job until the end of his contract that was to be at the final 2019/20 season – at the end of the 2018/19 season.
Mark Rudan former Phoenix coach will be at the opposite side at 2019/20 season kick-off
To replace Mark Rudan as head coach, Phoenix chose another Australian: Ufuk Talay. Talay was A-League champions last season with Sidney FC as assistant coach and was indicated by Rudan to the Wellington-based club board.
Krishna and Williams celebrating a goal vs Newcastle Jets while playing for Phoenix last season
With the departure of many important players – some to the new Rudan side, Western United – Talay needed to rebuild almost the entire team since before the new signings the roster had only seven players. The biggest absence in comparison with the last will be surely the ‘Fijian Flyer’ Roy Krishna that departed to Indian Super League side ATK after being the top-scorer and winner of Johnny Warren Medal – the award for the best player in the A-League season. In ATK, Krishna was joined by his partner at Phoenix, David Williams, another big missing for the New Zealand club.
Talay brought new many players, but the maintaning Steven Taylor – English Central Back, former Newcastle United – was surely a big deal. Taylor received the arm-band and will be the new captain in a rebulding season for the ‘Nix’.
Some young New Zealand talents came to Phoenix, as the case of former Eastern Suburbs and ISPS Handa Premiership 2018/19 Golden Boot winner Callum McCowatt and former Auckland City defender Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi. To replace the absence of Krishna and Williams, new imports were signed as the Mexican and former Chelsea FC midfielder Ulisses Dávila and the English striker David Ball. You can check here the full current squad of the Wellington Phoenix.
The Phoenix will be starting their new season this 13th October at 6pm NZT with live coverage of Sky Sports and My Football.
The dream of playing a FIFA World Cup is over for Maxwell Keana. He was ruled out of U17 squad just two weeks before Solomon Islands’ debut in the World Cup that’s going to be held in Brazil.
The 17 years old midfielder failed to a medical test which the whole squad underwent in a hospital in Honiara. He will stay in his country while his National Team mates will live his dream. He was part of the brilliant Solomon Islands’ squad that finished as OFC U16 Championship runner-up.
Maxwell Keana scored one goal in 2018 OFC U16 Championship
We hope Keana get well soon to show us his talent with Kossa and come back to National Team. He’s a talented player and surely will have more opportunities in Solomon Islands squads. Maybe his dream isn’t over, but just postponed, once he’s part of a bright generation of SI football and he’ll have the possibility to play a World Cup in the future.
Suva won Ba by 1-0 in 2019 Inter-District Championship in a thrilling semifinal. Christopher Wasasala scored a late goal in the 88th minute to take Suva to IDC final for second straight year to face Labasa.
Suva is in IDC’s final again
After losing 2018 final for Lautoka, Suva comes back to final ready to lift this trophy for the 14th time in its history while Labasa won IDC four times. Both teams already clashed in an Inter-District final. It was in 1994 and Babasiga Lions screwed up the party by beating the host Suva by 1-0.
The Capital Boys counts on Wasasala finishing power to win. The number 10 scored four goals so far in the competition, being the current IDC top scorer.
Wasasala is the current top scorer of the tournament
For Labasa side, Atonio Tuivuna scored three goals in four matches. Despite scoring only one goal in this tournament, Suva needs to keep an eye on Siotame Kubu that can be a game changer for their defense.
Siotame Kubu celebrates winning goal in Battle of the Giants
Oceania Football Center 