Champions held to draw by feisty Morobe

 By HENRY MORABANG
MOROBE United coach Paisa Sami sounded a warning to other premiership contenders that his Morobe United side had the ability to win the competition.
Sami made this comment after his Hide Gas Development Company (HGDC)-sponsored team held pre-match favourites, Hekari United to a 2-2 draw at the PNGIPA Oval on Saturday.
The match marked the end of the first round of matches in the Telikom National Soccer League.
Paisa said his side surprised him with their determination singled out Max Sengum and Kiwo Tepo  who were played out of position but put in whole-hearted efforts.
Sengum, normally a midfielder, had the unenvibale task of marking Hekari winger Tutizama Tanito while Tepo, a striker, found himself   at fullback. 
“We had to reshuffle the team because some of our regulars were dropped due to discipline problem,” Sami said.
Morobe captain Jamal Seeto, who stood in for suspended Valentine Nelson, scored a goal and led by example.
Seeto had help from partner Kupai Ipako.
The Madang man set Seeto for their opening goal. The match between the competition’s leading sides was hotly contested with both sides pressuring referee Amos Anio throughout the match.
Anio copped a heavy blast post match from Hekari management while Morobe chose not to comment on the Lae-based referee. Anio’s policing of the dangerous play rule was came under fire with the physical nature of the match affecting the home side’s midfield.
 Hekari’s Solomon Islands import Nicholas Muri found the net after a cross from compatriot Tanito  for the first goal of the afternoon.
Seeto, with an assist from Ipako, headed in the equaliser from Morobe’s reply.
The game seesawed for a while until Hekari’s Neil Hans put Tanito into open spaces on the left flank and the speedy Solomon Islander  proceeded to blast home one of the goals of the year. The curving 25-metre strike left  goalkeeper David Kali at full stretch but nowhere near the ball. Hekari led 2-1.
Despite trailing with most of the second half in front of them Morobe’s tenacity was plain for all to see and Hekari needed to blunt the visitors’ enthusiasm.
Hamson Topio took his chance when he sliced through Hekari’s defence to leave the home fans stunned  and the scores levelled at 2-2.
The Madang whippet could have put his side ahead minutes later if not for the Hekari goalkeeper Leslie Kalai who took the bumps and bruises to keep his side even.
In the early game, the Eastern Stars had the measure of Lae beating the visitors 2-1 for the Milne Bay side’s first win of the season.
Basil Jofari scored for Stars in the opening half while Patrick Aisa scored the Stars other goal. Kohu Liem pulled one back for Lae.
Standings: The unofficial ladder; Hekari 15, Lae 10, Morobe 9, Oro 7, Admiralty 6, Besta 6, Stars 4.