VATS Yamaros clinch PMSA title

By HENRY MORABANG
LANKY right fullback Tony Pepea was the hero of the newly crowned PMSA kings, VATS Yamaros after he scored the winning penalty shot against the Port Moresby School of Excellence (POMSOE) in the men’s premier grand final on Sunday.
Yamaros won the penalty shoot-out 4-3 in dramatic fashion.
POMSOE kickers Lap Embel, Charles Paranda and goalkeeper Charles Lepani scored their goals while Rodney Mobiha and Daniel Taylor failed to convert while Samson Kaniosi, Augustine Karava, Gerard Makein, Pepea scored their goals while Chakston Aopi missed.
With the fourth POMSOE penalty taker and goalkeeper Charles Lepani levelling the score at 3-3, Yamaros’ find of the season and striker Aopi only needed to score to win the match.
However, his penalty shot was saved by Lepani to keep the game alive.
Last kicker Daniel Taylor had to make the goal to force extra time but missed by putting it over the cross bar and Pepea sealed the victory.
The grand final was well controlled by former FIFA-ticketed referee Sosogan Salaiau.
Both sides fielded full-strength sides which also include national soccer league players in Paul Peter, Ammon Meki (Yamaros) and Lap Embel and Cyril Muta (POMSOE).
Yamaros started as favourites with skipper George Yaleba, Kanioisi, Pepea and Danny Ling putting up good defence against POMSOE strikers Embel and Mobiha who found the Yamaros last line impenetrable.
The younger POMSOE went in as underdogs but gave everything they had against the experienced and older Yamaros.
POMSOE skipper Muta led by example in the midfield and was well assisted by Kwakot Poesi until replaced by his brother, Samson.
Lepani also made several good saves that helped keep his team in the match.
Muta said it was anybody’s game until it went to the penalty shoot-out.
POMSOE coach Wayne Taylor was also satisfied despite the 4-3 loss.
“The boys played exceptionally well considering Lap and Cyril are backing up from their NSL match on Saturday, it was too much to ask of these two players today,” he said.
In other lower division grand finals, Etsu Mungkas beat Hohola United 3-1 in the U19 grand final, Dobo Warriors beat Rubuana 1-0 in the se­cond division while Golo beat Manena 2-1 in first division.