City outclass Madang

Sports

By LARRY ANDREW
TOTI City outclassed Madang FC 7-2 in their top-of-the-table National Soccer League clash on Saturday at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium in Lae.
The result proved that City, who are unbeaten and outright competition leaders, are the team to beat in the 2018 season.
In the opening fixture of the double-header, Morobe Wawens edged fellow Mororbeans Buang FC 2-1 in a closely-ought tussle while in Port Moresby, wet weather forced the cancellation of the Southern Strikers-Besta PNG United match.
In the main clash in Lae, City and Madang entered the contest on level pegging with two wins each.
But the Peter Gunemba-coached Toti were favoured to be a class above and that proved to be the case as they continuously out-smarted and stretched a gallant Madang outfit in front of a crowd which included PNGFA vice-president John Wesley Gonjuan and City sponsor Ian Chow, of the Lae Biscuit Company.
With referee Mairi Nori, from Goroka, taking charge of the game, Madang opened the scoring with goal by Nigel Malagian in the fifth minute.
Malagian stunned the City defence with a long range effort from the left wing which sailed past the out-stretched hands of goalkeeper Ronald Warisan, putting the visitors a goal in front.
But the celebrations were cut short as City hit back through captain Raymond Gunemba, who combined with brother Troy for the equaliser.
Spurred on by that goal, the hosts edged in front thanks to a penalty after a handball by Madang.
Solomon Islander Tutizama Tanito slotted the goal for 2-1 which they took to halftime.
City started the second stanza with intent as star striker Nigel Dabinyaba slammed home a direct penalty after some over-zealous defence by Madang’s Max Sengum.
Leading 3-1, the floodgates opened as City lifted the ante as skipper Raymond Gunmeba scored two more goals to clinch a hat-trick for the match and Dabinyaba bagging a second while substitute Obert Bika scored for the hosts to surge to an unassailable 7-1 lead. Madang, who never threw in the towel, managed a consolation goal through Nigel Malagian claiming his second goal of the match after good lead-up work from captain Michael Foster and brother Vanya Malagian.
City 7 (Raymond Gunemba 3, Nigel Dabinyaba 2, Tutizama Tanito, Obert Bika goals) Madang 2 (Nigel Malagian 2 goals) HT: 2-1 (City) at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium, Lae.