United edge Sobou in Lahi penalty shootout

CONSORT United Football Club were crowned champions after edging Sobou FC 4-3 in a penalty shootout in the Lahi Soccer Association men’s A-league grand final on Saturday.
In the other grand finals, Sobou beat Consort 2-0 in the reserve league and Prima Power defeated Morobe 3-0 in the women’s division.
In the A-league grand final, minor premiers Sobou got off to a good start when an infringement outside United’s penalty area saw Walbo Komuna stepping up to score the opener.
But after the opener, United started to find their rhythm and penetrate Sobou’s defence.
The amount of possession in United’s favour paid off when Mathew Pukari grabbed the equaliser.
With their tails up after Pukari’s goal, United pressed on in attack and added two more goals through Albert Morgan Jr and Dominic Onea to ensure a 3-1 halftime lead.
The resumption of the second stanza saw Sobou — led by Jeremy Yasasa — firing on all cylinders to stay in the contest.
The former Hekari United player added Sobou’s second goal to narrow the scores.
Yasasa was again in the thick of it — this time, crossing the ball from the left flank to find Jacob Sabua who equalised.
But both sides were unable to score in extra time, forcing the match into a penalty shootout.
United came out victors after holding their nerve to snatch a 4-3 win in the shootout.