Solomon Islands Beach Soccer team, Bilikiki rebound from the opening loss in the OFC Beach Soccer Men’s Nations Cup with an emphatic 17-4 victory over a brave Papua New Guinea.
The home boys thrilled a lively home crowd with a dominant performance – made a dream start when Thomas Amasia opened the goal galore from the spot in the opening 2’minutes.
Joses Nawo doubled the lead for his first beach soccer goal, firing a deflected shot off the post. The onslaught continued as Bilikiki debutant; Peter Reginald added the third leaving PNG reeling.
Albert Bobby smashed in the fourth off the crossbar to firmly in control but the visitors pulled one back to give some hope heading into the second period 4-1.
PNG started strong in the second period getting another goal back but it was short-lived as Bilikiki’s star boy, Erick Wanega restored dominance with a well-executed strike before Max Fa’ari added a brace in a space of 3’ minutes to extend the lead further.
Reginald was on his top Bilikiki performance in the match as he and captain Charlie Otainao piled on more goals for the hosts, with Nawo also grabbing his second. PNG then scored again before Wanega completed his hat-trick with a bobbling shot.
Fa’ari also got a hat-trick to his name in the final period despite the tournament’s debutants scoring again in the last 12 minutes. Wanega added two more late goals, bringing his tally to five, while Reginald sealed his hat-trick in the dying seconds.
The win puts the Solomon Islands back on track in the tournament and a win against Fiji tomorrow will set up a mouthwatering rematch against the defending Champions Tahiti on Saturday.
