Kepo helps Hekari up ladder

HEKARI United moved into second spot on the Kumul Petroleum National Soccer League ladder after a Kolu Kepo double helped the side beat Bougainville 2-0 in Port Moresby on Saturday.
The resumption of matches after a four-month break over the Covid-19 pandemic saw a slow start to the round-11 clash at Papua New Guinea Football Stadium.
Under new head coach Percy Mataio, Bougainville’s Gwama Taukuro, Basil and Abel Redenut pushed Hekari in a scoreless first half.
Greg Togubai’s transfer to Hekari proved the difference with the former Bougainville striker adding depth alongside veteran midfielders Michael Foster and David Muta to pave the way for Kepo to score his first goal in the 60th minute.
Togubai then sliced through the Bougainville defence to set Kepo up for his second goal.
Meanwhile, a Pettyshen Elijah double helped Star Mountain force a 2-2 draw with competition leaders Vitiaz United.
The draw saw the NSL rookies drop to third after defending champions Lae City beat Gulf Komara 5-0 to take pole spot.
Vitiaz’s Yagi Yasasa opened the scoring 22 minutes in but Star Mountain responded through Elijah to go into the break level.
Forward Jonathan Allen regained the lead for Vitiaz with a goal in the 77th minute but Elijah forced a share of the points with his second in stoppage time.
Star Mountain coach Selan Elijah was happy with side’s fighting spirit.
The side remain in eighth spot in the 10-team competition.