After a disappointing loss to Hekari Souths FC in the O-League just over a week ago, Koloale FC have bounced back with a convincing win in their domestic competition.
Koloale beat Zome Mars 2-0 at Lawson Tama yesterday to get their Top Eight campaign in Honiara’s DJ League off to a bright start.
The Top Eight competition kicked off at the weekend and all participating teams will be pushing for a top four finish after the Solomon Islands Football Federation announced this week that four Honiara teams will gain automatic entry into the National Club Championship – the competition from which the O-League representative is decided.
The fifth place team in the Super Eight will still have a shot at making the National Club Championships, needing to beat the winner of the minor championship in a playoff.
Koloale got off to the best possible start in the Top Eight against Zome Mars with a goal in each half from captain Richard Anisua proving enough to record their first three points.
Koloale coach Luke Eroi took no chances against Zome Mars, the eighth placed team in last season’s DJ League, and fielded his best eleven. Captain Richard Anisua proved the hero of the day with a goal in each half enough to secure Koloale’s first three points of the competition.
Joses Nawo and Nicholas Muri led the attack and with support from Henry Fa’arodo and Jeffery Bule on the flanks, Koloale were dominant throughout.
Without key player James Naka, Zome Mars rarely ventured forward and were left will little possession. Their best goal scoring opportunities came early in the first half with Nawo and Fa’arodo combining well only for their shots to be saved. Nawo also hit the woodwork in the first half.
The Koloale strikers wasted chances in front of goal and had to turn to their defensive midfielder and captain Anisua to come up with their first goal of the match in the 34th minute.
Anisua scored after some strong running by Muri who went past two defenders before releasing a through ball.
Zome Mars came back strong in the second half searching for an equalizer but were let down after conceding a penalty four minutes after the restart from a foul on Fa’arodo.
Anisua stood up and converted the spot kick to make it 2-0.
Koloale now lead Group B with three points. Other teams in group B are Kossa FC and Naha FC who will play each other on Saturday.
In other action, Uncles FC got their Top 8 campaign in Honiara’s DJ League off to a bright start beating Marist FC 3-1 at the weekend. Two goals from Kidston Billy and one from his strike partner Casper Aengari meant Uncles got their revenge after a heartbreaking 4-5 loss to Marist in last year’s competition.
Tomorrow, Sunbeam meet CDL Lakers in the minor championship at Lawson Tama.
On Saturday 28 March, Koloale play Ba in the final Group B match of the 2009 O-League. Both teams will need a win to advance to the O-League final but if the match ends in a draw then Hekari Souths will progress.
Story credits: SIFF Media and Solomon Star News