Hekari crush Erema

 By FRANCIS RODNEY PULU

WITH just two more games to go, the top position of the Southern Conference is now beyond reach for other teams to catch up nine-time National Soccer League Champions Hekari after they thrashed Erema 9-3 at the Bisini Soccer Ground over the weekend.

The win saw them further extending their lead to 24 points followed by FC Port Moresby who are now second on the ladder with 13 points after beating PKA Rapatona 3-0 in the second game on Saturday.

The heroes of the nine-goal thrashing were golden boot contenders Koriak Upaiga, who scored a hat-trick and striking partner Tommy Sammy who got the other four.  

Substitutes Rodney Mobiha and Sammy Campell contributed one each. Erema played well in the first half to keep the scores at 3-2 at half time but just could not maintain the e rhythm in the second half, permitting Hekari to score the six additional goals. 

Hekari wasted no time in the first 15 minutes from a good build up that saw captain David Muta putting a through ball for Sammy to slam home the first goal. 

Five minutes later Sammy set up Upaiga to score for a 2-0 lead.

Erema retaliated in the 25th minute with striker Gary Mokato settingup striking partner Tau Winnie to score and trail 2-1.

Sammy bounced back for Hekari to score his second goal to extend the lead to 3-1. Erema continued to work hard and that saw Winnie scoring one of their best goals when he dummied to strike but chipped the ball over goalkeeper who lay helplessly as the ball went into the goal for a 3-2 half time deficit. 

Coming into the second half Upaiga again set up substitute Campbell to score and extend the lead to 4-2. 

Sammy again set up substitute Mobiha to extend the lead to 5-2. Erema’s last goal was scored by Moka.

Hekari’s sixth and eighth goals were scored by Sammy while Upaiga scored the seventh and ninth to put the icing on the cake.

A proud Hekari coach Jerry Allan said as the conference stage was coming to an end they wanted to maintain their form. “We are the only unbeaten team so far after eight matches but there is no room for complacency.

“Every game is a must-win game and we are fielding our best every match,” Allan said.

Erema coach Steven Mune said he knew they would struggle when first choice goal-keeper Ben Kaia was unable to make the game.

“We had no choice but to use oursecond keeper and when Hekari realised that we didn’t have our usual guy back there they targeted that problem and just kept scoring goals every time they got in range,” Mune said.

Hekari 9 (T Sammy 4, K Upaiga 3, S Campbell, R Mobiha goals) Erema 3 (T Winnie 2, G Moka goals)