The Telekom S-League (TSL) season is in full swing with Match Week 2 of matches played across two venues in a mid-week schedule.
With two matches each played, it’s a business start of the season to gain maximum points as it remains tight at the top, middle, and bottom of the table, as nothing is set in stone.
Current Champions, Solomon Warriors, Central Coast FC, Southern United, and Laugu United FC are off to a perfect campaign with two out of two wins – while KOSSA FC and FC Juniper Tree are still unsettled for a point.
Henderson Eels and Waneagu United had a slow start to their campaign and a rejuvenated Honiara City got the maximum points to register initial points on the league standing.
Eels from their opening draw against Waneagu United faced an uphill challenge when they took on the defending Champions, Warriors FC on Wednesday.
HENDERSON EELS v SOLOMON WARRIORS
The Advance Technology-sponsored franchise found themselves leading the champions 20 minutes into the match from an Alfie Aunga close strike past Timothy Maerasia.
In a match full of pace and obvious intensity Warriors capitalized back on level terms 3 minutes before half-time through Japanese import Kohei Matsumoto who curled a powerful shot convert from the near post.
Warriors who will be playing their third fixture this weekend before heading to Tahiti for the OFC Men’s Champions League 2024, needed a positive result to come back stronger in the next half with substitute Tigi Molea putting the reds ahead and Gagame Feni sealed the 3 points despite Dennis Ifunaoa missed from the spot in the dying minutes.
LAUGU UNITED v WANEAGU UNITED
Picking up a late winner for Laugu United was the big deal in a tense encounter at the Lawson Tama stadium. Chris Ha’atarau found the back of the net 5 minutes before full-time to give the men in black some positive assurance against a determined Waneagu United who came into this year’s season losing most of its prolific players.
REAL KAKAMORA v MARIST FC
Might be exhausted from the opening loss to the Warriors over the weekend, Real Kakamora showed resilience against Marist FC in a heated contest. New signing Paul Francis made the difference from a rebound to put Kakamora in the driving seat to lead at half-time.
Marist FC on the other hand already on 3 points against KOSSA FC in their opening match everything was worth fighting for in the next 45 minutes. But it was not what was expected when Marist FC was reduced to 9 men for reckless behavior on the pitch which prompted referee Shama Maemae to award straight red cards to two of their players.
With the players’ advantage, Kakamora slotted 3 unanswered goals for a recording 4-0 victory.
CENTRAL COAST FC v FC JUNIPER TREE
It’s a walk in the park for Central Coast FC adding salt to the wound on a struggling FC Juniper Tree 5-0 at the Lawson Tama stadium.
The Jacob Moli men are currently in the league’s driving seat as one of the inform teams in the competition by far.
HONIARA CITY v SOSA FC
Coming back from the opening league loss to Southern United, Honiara City had to make sure of their top status from last season going up against SOSA FC.
A goal in each half was enough for the sky-blues to secure a 2-0 win.
KOSSA FC v SOUTHERN UNITED
KOSSA FC yet again suffered another upset at the hands of Southern United in the main match at the East End stadium. United’s menacing attack got them off to a leading start before claiming a commanding 5-0 win over KOSSA FC who are still to find their rhythm in the new season.
