The club’s premier side retained their title, and completed an impressive season-long undefeated run in the process, with a 2-1 win over Marist.
The first goal arrived in the 28th minute when Lafaele Moala latched onto a through ball from midfielder Kilifi Uele. The striker then embarked on a solo run before placing a shot past Marist goalkeeper and captain Kaneti Felela to give his side an early advantage.
Felela was surprisingly in action at the other end of the field as Marist drew level midway through the second half. They were presented with the perfect opportunity to equalise when a penalty was awarded against the leaders and Felela himself stepped up to tuck it away and set up an exciting end to the match.
Over a thousand supporters were kept in suspense as both sides pushed hard for the win but Felela was the busier of the two goalkeepers, pulling off a string of brilliant saves to keep his side in the contest.
But Loto Ha’apai were not to be denied and rewarded their fans for their vocal support three minutes from the final whistle, Uele finding the corner of the net to earn the win and underline the defending champions’ supremacy.
The Loto Ha’apai women’s team was also given a tough match by their Marist rivals and likewise emerged as winners by one goal, coming out on the right side of a 1-0 scoreline.
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