SOLOMON ISLANDS EDGE PAPUA NEW GUINEA IN A THRILLING ENCOUNTER

Solomon Islands national football team again has produced a memorable win for the home fans as thousands of supporters flooded the Lawson Tama stadium in anticipation of a great match. Solomon Islands sensational James Naka was introduced into the mid second half and has sparked some energy into the team.

The most anticipated match for many Solomon Islanders has concluded in a satisfying manner. Solomon Islands national football team were the center of attention heading into the match having lost a friendly match to Fiji. The team kicked off quite as expected by fans and showed so much character in creating chances more than their opposition team. The Papua New Guinea national team did not kick off the match as they hoped and eventually found themselves answering for their slow start by an incredible composed goal by Atkin Kaua and a good finish by the Solomon Islands skipper Benjamin Totori. The Solomon Islands looked more like the side that would finish the game up easily but the second half was a totally new story. Papua New Guinea fought back into the second half scoring their first goal just two minutes into the second half through Michael Foster before equalizing through another well-worked set piece from a corner kick. The match was then in either team’s reach but the Solomon Islands through the timely substitution by the head coach Felipe Vega-Arango, introduced James Naka who went on to mesmerize the local fans and eventually setting up Micah Lea’alafa who did well in beating the goalkeeper and finishing off in the empty goal. Solomon Islands concluded the match as winners but had to go through a very difficult Papua New Guinea team.

For many Solomon Islands, this is something great and something that reflects a good performance from their national team. For others, the job has just started as Solomon Islands look forward to their away match against Papua New Guinea. The Lawson  Tama stadium today was parked and showered with the colors of our Nation determined to succeed in a period where our football is struggling to reach its reputation in the past. Solomon Islands definitely have another important task at hand and that is to get another win in Papua New Guinea to claim a spot in the grand final against the mighty All Whites.

Picture by Black19photopgraphy