Hekari vent frustration

 By HENRY MORABANG

REIGNING champions Hekari United returned to the National Soccer League with a vengeance thrashing a hapless Oro 5-0 at PNGIPA Oval on Saturday.

After their unsuccessful OFC Champions League campaign in Fiji, the Reds were looking for someone to release their pent up emotions on and Oro happened to be the sacrificial lamb.  

But it was not all one-way traffic as the opening half only yielded a single goal.

Playing curtain raiser to the 1-1 all drawn match between Admiralty and Eastern Stars, Hekari put their foot down in the second stanza  completely outclassing Oro.

Oro were banking on its core experienced players in Gari Moka, Maxwell Mende, Nathan Vincent, Leana Geno and Michael Lohai to lead the way but they had not answers for the Hekari onslaught.

Veteran campaigner Kema Jack, who was not given much playing time during the OFC Champion League challenge showed he still had some fight left in him bagging the first goal in the 28th minute.

Oro tried to equalise could find no way through the red wall manned by Pita Bolatoga, Koriak Upaiga and Daniel Joe.

 In the second half, Hekari assistant coach Jerry Sam instructed his boys lift their intensity as the Oro defence was weakening.

Nigel Dabinyaba provided good crosses to find teammates for easy goals. Solomon Islander Nicholas Muri increased his season’s tally to four goals when he scored in the 72 minute while reserve mid-fielder Neil Hans powered another goal in the 89th minute and skipper Koriak Upaiga scored in the 90th minute while hardworking Dabinyaba put the final nail to the coffin in the injury time to seal the match. 

In the early match, the Solomon Island contingent in Admiralty FC have reserve their return flight to Honiara with a stunning 1-1 draw against Eastern Stars while in Lae, Gigira Laitepo Morobe held off a strong challenge from young Besta outfit to win 2-1.

Hekari United 5 (K. Jack (28), N. Muri (72), N. Hans (80), K. Upaiga (89), N. Dabinyaba (injury time) Oro 0. HT: 1-0 (Hekari) at the PNGIPA Oval, Port Moresby.

Standings: Hekari 21, Morobe 17, Oro 14, Lae 13, Besta 7, Admiralty 7, Stars 7.