Purari’s double helps Wawens draw with Madang

By LARRY ANDREW
TWO second-half goals by youngster Bernard Purari of FC Morobe Wawens earned his side an entertaining 2-2 draw against Madang FC.
The weekend of soccer entertainment involving the four Mamose-based National Soccer League franchises got the thumbs up from fans, who would be hoping for a definitive conclusion to the new season after last year’s premature end.
In the first of the double header games at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium, three-time NSL champions Toti City FC were pushed to the limits by the young Besta PNG United FC side.
However, City under the captaincy of Nigel Dabinyaba had the edge over the development team.
The City men scored two goals in the first half and added another through Jacob Sabua in the second half to win 3-1.
With applied pressure on City’s backline, young Ernest Gematep seized the opportunity at the right moment to score his side’s only goal of the trial game.
While in the main match of the double header, the game was tossed on the fence between Madang FC and FC Morobe Wawens.
Just into the first few minutes of the game the Maurie Wasi coached Madang side wasted no time to put themselves in the game with Manu Airem scoring to take 1-0 lead.
However, the homeside not backing off regrouped and push back to cut some of Madang’s attacking play.
The game swaying back and forth saw Wawens Kenneth Pilailo giving a penalty away right in front of the goalmouth. Referee penalized Pilailo for deliberately stopping a potential goal for Madang with his hand. Vanya Malagian find no mistakes with his legs as he sail the ball to the right passing Wawens goalkeeper Jason Bendi to increase the lead to 2-0.
Wawens coming back in the second stanza kept pressuring the Madang defence saw Purari finding himself in the clear score the first of his two goals. .
And with the goal scored Wawens were ignited and play intensive football which saw Purari finding himself again at the right spot to equalize the game to a 2-2 draw.
Meanwhile the NSL board had release its draws that will see Wawens travelling down to Madang while City host United in Lae in the season opening on Jan 13.