Dwellers put on a class act

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The National, Monday February 29th, 2016

 By HENRY MORABANG

LAE City Dwellers are primed for minor premiership after a 5-0 thrashing of PKA Rapatona during round 3 of the NSL Champions League in Port Moresby on Saturday.

In the other match played in Lae, former champions Hekari United came from a 0-1 deficit midway through the first half to win the match 2-1.

The Port Moresby game was a class act from the Northern Conference leaders with coach Peter Gunemba aiming for a minor premiership. The five unanswered goals have put the Dwellers in stead to achieve their dream. 

The Lae’s lethal striking pair  of Raymond Gunemba and Nigel Dabinyaba scored the brace while flanker Obert Bika picked up a single for the highest scoreline posted in the league.

The match kicked off in a fast pace and intensity under the watchful eyes of Wau referee Noah Kusunan. 

Rapatona dominated the first 15 minutes of the game. They had several scoring opportunities through striker Patrick Aisa and Samuel Kini.

Midway through the opening half, the tide swayed Lae City’s way with former Rapatona star Michael Foster taking control of the game in the midfield to set up his teammates. 

He proved a valuable buy for the Morobe team and was almost faultless in the midfield. 

In one of such raid in Rapatona’s territory, Gunemba was brought down in the danger zone by Rodney Talau for a spot kick. However, Nigel Dabinyaba failed to convert after good goalkeeping from John Bai.

In the 32nd minute, Gunemba opened the scoring after receiving a good pass from Foster to beat the Rapatona defence and put the ball past Bai for a 1-0 lead.

A minute later, Dabinyaba made up for the missed spot kick by beating Rapatona’s defence and putting the ball over Bai to extend the lead to 2-0. 

In the second half, the Dwellers surprised Rapatona with quick offensive play to sneak in two quick goals through Gunemba in the 52nd minute and followed by another classic through Dabinyaba in the 53rd minute.  

Hardworking flanker Obert Bika sneaked in the final goal after a follow-through penalty taken by Foster to put the game out of the reach 5-0.

Rapatona’s Rodney Talau, who had his younger sibling Joshua on the opposite end, was red carded for elbowing Dabinyaba in a challenge for the ball. 

Dwellers coach Peter Gunemba said he was a happy man with the 5-0 result.

Opposite coach Selan Elijah conceded defeat and said the better team won on the day. 

“We came prepared for the game but the players did not rise to the occasion today,” he said.

 

Lae City Dwellers 5 (Raymond 32, 53, Nigel Dabinyaba 33,  52, Obert Bika 59) PKA Rapatona 0. Half time Lae City Dwellers 2-0. Unofficial ladder: Lae City Dwellers 9, Hekari 9, Welgris 0 and PKA Rapatona 0.