What a comeback. Henderson Eels claws from the jaws of defeat to comeback from 2-0 down and beat Lautoka FC of Fiji in a thrilling match Langanville Soccer City Stadium this afternoon in both sides crucial final Group B match at the OFC Champions League.
Second-half substitute Kennedy Watemae scored his debut goal to start the comeback before wonderkid Raphael Lea’i draws level for Eddie Marahare and company.
Joses Nawo continues his stellar form in front of the goal to score a late winner for Eels who are all but secured a spot in the quarterfinals.
Henderson Eels 3-2 Lautoka FC
The Henderson Eels were about nine minutes away from elimination before late goals to Raphael Lea’i and Joses Nawo helped them beat Fiji’s Lautoka 3-2.
Nawo’s strike came in the sixth minute of injury time and guaranteed his side a spot in the quarter-finals but they will be playing away from home in the next round after eventually finishing second in Group B.
Eels coach Eddie Marahare was a relieved man after the final whistle.
“I cannot express how sweet it is to come back, especially in the additional time, to win the game,” he said.
“In the second half, we just had the fighting spirit to go until the end.”
The Eels weren’t even on the board until the 72nd minute when substitute Kennedy Watemae got them off the mark and from there the Solomon Islands club went on the attack.
It all looked to be going so well for Lautoka who were ahead 2-0 through goals to Shazil Ali and Jack Caunter, the latter converting his second spot-kick of the tournament, but the Eels would not be denied.
Caunter said his team was brutally disappointed given they needed to win to keep their hopes alive of advancing to the next round.
“I thought we battled really well. Our plan was to sit deep and we kind of executed that really well for 60-odd minutes, didn’t give them much, had a few chances ourselves and the boys are just pretty gutted,” he said.
But in the end, it was the Eels who wanted it more and they will move on to play an away quarterfinal.
Malampa Revivors 3-0 Lae City FC
Hosts Malampa Reviviors upset Papua New Guinea champions Lae City FC to top the group.
