Hekari strecthed, win

 By LARRY ANDREW

DEFENDING champions Hekari hung on to beat Besta PNG United 3-1 in a fiery match in Telikom National Soccer League in Lae on Saturday.

Besta PNG urged on by the home crowd gave the city team a run for their money in a match that saw five players shown yellow cards and at one stage Hekari officials having an argument with the referee.

The Port Moresby-based under pressure from Besta United found the going tough and managed to open the scorecard at the 26th minute.

The goal was created by Tutizawa Tanito when he pushed the ball across from the left hand corner of the field to find Nigel Dabinyaba who sent the header home to lead 1-0.

Besta increased their tempo in attack, searching for the equaliser but the attempts failed to give them the much-needed goal due to poor finishes and relentless defence from  Hekari.

At half-time Helari held a slender 1-0 lead. Besta United players continued to bombard Hekari territory with some exciting offensive moves and finally the pressure told as the city team yielded.

It was Lui Kataka who slammed home the equaliser at the 69th minute which sent the crowd at the Sir Ignatius Kilage stadium into a frenzy.

But Hekari showed why they are the undisputed kings of PNG soccer by chipping away at the opposition’s defence and that eventually caved in when Dabinyaba scored at the 84th minute. Hekari’s Fijian import Tuimasi Manuca proved his value when he sealed the match on the stroke of full-time. 

Despite the loss Besta captain Peter Yang earned the three points for the man-of-the-match ratings while Hekari’s Taniela Waqa got two points and Besta’s Tutzama Tanito one for their individual performances.  

Hekari 3 (N Dabinyaba 26, 84, T Manuca 90) Besta United 1 (L.Kataka 69) HT: 1-0 at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium, Lae.