Gubag grabs double as Stallions out do Gulf

TUSBAB Stallions leading goal scorer Stahl Gubag scored a double in his team’s 3-0 win over the Gulf Komara in Madang on the weekend.
Gubag unleashed his first goal just inside the 18-yard box in the 27th minute to get his side out to a 1-0 first half lead in the Kumul Petroleum National Soccer League round four fixture before adding another in the second half for the home side to lead 2-0 l at Laiwaden Oval.
Gubag, who has five goals for the Madang side this year, was in fine form on home turf while teammate Ephraim Leo bagged his side’s third goal off a penalty.
The visitors struggled to stay with the Stallions who set an intense pace and there was little Gulf’s Max Sengum could do in the midfield to counter the home side’s surges.
Stallions coach Rachael Wadunah was pleased with her side’s effort as it would give them good momentum heading into the next round when they faced heavyweights Hekari United in Port Moresby.
“We must produce fire in our finishing shots. We want to test ourselves against Hekari. We will be ready for that game come Saturday,” Wadunah said.
Meanwhile, Gulf coach David Aua said his team’s inability to match the Stallions tempo had as much to do with their youth and pace as it did with Madang’s humidity.
“It the first time my boys have played in this kind of heat,” he said.
“We came in and needed to score first. That did not happen, and following that nothing positive happened for us.”
Aua announced straight after the game that he would step down as the coach of the Gulf side, leaving the position to Steven Mune.
“I will concentrate on managing the team,” he said. “Our franchise will do better after this change.”
The former PNG national team goal keeper turned coach, Aua, was confident Mune would do a good job.
While Stallions enjoyed their third straight win, Komara have now lost four games in a row with their finals hopes all but dashed.
The match was televised live on local television station Tumbuna TV. The online television station launched a trial telecast of the match.
Tumbuna TV’s Christopher Seeto said the broadcast could be received around the world on popular social media sites YouTube and Facebook.