City stage late comeback to pip Besta PNG United

By LARRY ANDREW
TOTI City, Morobe United and Morobe Wawens recorded wins in the Kumul Petroleum National Soccer League Northern Conference in Lae on Saturday.
In the first game of the triple header at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium, defending champions City beat Besta PNG United 3-2.
The International Food Corporation-sponsored team gave City a scare when brothers Jonathan and Abraham Allen scored goals in the 24th and 71st minute.
However, Besta could not maintain their lead as City fought back through a penalty goal from Nigel Dabinyaba in the 82nd minute to trail 2-1.
City, using their experience, scored a minute later through Emmanuel Airem to go level with Besta.
Three minutes later, City captain Raymond Gunemba played a through ball for Airem to score the winner.
In the second game, visitors Tusbab Stallions wasted no time as they opened the scores with a goal through Devi Morris in the third minute.
With the game in the balance, the Stallions maintained their lead.
But a handball saw Morobe United’s captain Jeremy Yasasa slotting home a penalty shot.
The lead was short-lived as Russel Nirik set up veteran Eliude Fugre to equalise.
At the resumption of the second half, conference leaders Morobe stepped up their game to add five unanswered goals through a Alex Kamen hat-trick, and a goal each by Joshua Oscar and Nirik for a 6-1 win.
The main game between Markham and Morobe Wawens saw both teams testing their strategies.
The Wawens, with only a win prior to the match, put their bodies on the line.
Wawens’ Giwi Simon crossed the ball to Jason Farrock, who set up captain Moses Kamakeng to score in the ninth minute. With about a quarter of game gone, a good piece of play in the Wawens’ territory saw Bernard Purari push the ball through for Simon who belted the ball past Markham goalkeeper Russel Chris to extend their lead to 2-0.
The Wawens sealed the match in stoppage time with a goal through Jessie Johns after Chris fumbled a cross.