Hekari put 13 past Amoana

By ROBINSON LEKA
PAPUA New Guinea striker Marie Kaipu shot into the lead of the golden boot standings after she scored eight goals to help Hekari United beat Amoana 13-1 in Port Moresby on Saturday.
The 23-year-old and four-goal hero Sonia Embahe dominated up front as Hekari got their Women’s National Soccer League campaign off to a flying start at PNG Football Stadium.
Central side Amoana were unable to keep up with Hekari from the get-go as Hekari skipper Kaipu scored five goals 20 minutes in and her teammate Nialen Moses netted one.
Amoana scored a consolation goal through Vaina Kila 11 minutes from halftime before Kaipu found the net again for a 7-1 lead at the break.
Pacific Games gold medallist Kaipu netted another two goals in the second half before Embahe continued the scoring with four of her own before fulltime.
“We played as a team and there’s no other way to play a soccer match,” said Hekari coach and former PNG international Erickson Komeng, whose side now lead the Southern Conference.
“We played more like a team compared with when we started training.
It all comes down to teamwork. “We have a lot of experience in the team with players like Kaipu.
“But I won’t depend on experience, I’ll count on teamwork.
“We’re going to take every game as it comes and we’re looking forward to playing against teams in our conference.”
Komeng said Hekari were anticipating tough opposition in the conference as the season progressed with all six clubs yet to hit their stride in the country’s premier football competition for women.
Meanwhile, Meagan Gunemba’s Poro lead the Northern Conference after they beat Rainy Lae 5-1 at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium in the Morobe capital on Saturday.
Results: Sat, Dec 5 — Port Moresby City 3 NCD 0, Hekari United 13 Amoana 1, Genesis 3 Port Moresby Academy 0, Bara 2 Tusbab Laidamon 2, Poro 5 Rainy Lae 1, Morobe Tulip 2 Pacific Gardens 0, Markham Raings 1 Sepik 1.