Gunemba scores 6 as City clobber Kumuls

By LARRY ANDREW
Captain Raymond Gunemba scored six goals to help Toti City thrash Blue Kumul 8-1 in the Kumul Petroleum National Soccer League elimination round in Lae yesterday.
In the other elimination final, Northern Conference runners-up Morobe United beat Highlands champions Kagua Erave 5-1 in Goroka on Saturday.
City didn’t waste time with Gunemba scoring the opener in just 22 seconds.
The City skipper was at the right spot at the right time when the Blue Kumuls inadvertently played the ball back into the path of Gunemba, who beat his opponents to score the first of his six goals.
The lead was extended to 2-0 in the third minute when Michael Foster dribbled the ball down the left corner and set up Gunemba to score his second goal.
Not to be pushed over, the Blue Kumuls — through captain Andrew Apo, Henson Upaiga, Eric Kepu and Timmie Zuruka — responded with a goal to Nelson Sam in the 18th minute.
However, that was the only goal for the Highlands Conference runners-up as the flood gates opened for Northern Conference champions City to add four more goals to Rodney Talau, Gunemba (2) and Emmanuel Airem for a 6-1 lead at the break. In the second half, the Blue Kumuls tried to hold out City but the NSL champions were not done yet, as Gunemba added two more goals to give his team the victory and qualify for the next stage.