The final Our Telekom National Club Championship group matches are being played today and a number of teams are in the running to book a quarter final berth.
Defending champions Marist FC moved into third in the Group A table with a 3-2 win over Sipa on Saturday and still have a mathematical chance of progressing, provided results from Group B and C go in their favour.
Koloale are in pole position in Group B after playing out a scoreless stalemate with second-placed Rendova Devon. The draw puts Koloale on 10 points while Rendova are on five and have a good chance of going through. Both teams have now played all their group matches.
Makuru made sure of their place in the last eight with a 4-1 win over Gizo United in Group C. Gizo are now second with two points and the final Group C match, which takes place today between South Central Gold and Solomon Warriors, will decide who joins Makuru in the quarter finals.
Marist came into their Group A clash against a strong Sipa side on the back of a winless run of two defeats and a draw. They needed a victory to keep their quarter final hopes alive and got off to the perfect start when Patrick Eric netted in just the third minute.
But the Sipa players were not in a charitable mood and had turned the game on its head by the 25th minute with two goals in quick succession. Alfred Pamoana got them back on level terms before Paul Oscar gave his side the lead five minutes later.
Marist worked hard to find an equaliser and were rewarded when Elliot Ragomo, who put in a tireless performance, fired home from outside the 18-yard box.
Coach Patrick Miniti and his men earned the 3-2 win in the 64th minute thanks to a Ben Hibiscus strike.
The scoreline was not as impressive in the Group B match between Koloale and Rendova Devon but the action was just as dramatic.
Rendova set up in a defensive 5-3-2 formation and their stifling tactics frustrated the Koloale strike force, which included Waitakere United speedster Benjamin Totori and Henry Fa’arodo, one of the few Solomon Islanders to have played top-flight Australian football.
The 27-year-old wore the colours of Perth Glory during the first A-League season in 2005-06 before having stints with Canterbury United and Auckland City in the New Zealand Football Championship.
The star duo and fellow attacker Mostyn Beui were on form but could not find a way past Rendova goalkeeper Charles Sale, who produced one of his best showings, as the match ended goalless.
There was doubt about whether anyone would even get the chance to score a goal in the Group C match between Makuru and Gizo United.
Makuru are owned and managed by Seventh Day Adventists and earlier in the week stated they would not take the field due to their religious convictions. But 30 minutes before kick-off the Makuru players arrived and were keen to play to avoid being disqualified.
They were, however, without the services of many senior players and were forced to field a youthful line-up. The youngsters took only two minutes to get off the mark as Dennis Ifunaoa raced forward to beat the goalkeeper with a low shot.
Coleman Makau then scored twice in 10 minutes to make it 3-0. Gizo replied through Willie Riqeo before former YoungHeart Manawatu and Waitakere United striker Commins Menapi added Makuru’s fourth.
All the goalscoring took place before halftime and the second spell was a far more even affair.
Makuru can now look forward to taking their form into the quarter finals while Gizo’s fate will be decided today by South Central Gold and Solomon Warriors.