Madang FC

The match was the last of the triple-header schedule at the PNG Football Stadium in Round 4 of the men’s Premier Soccer League.

Madang FC Coach Alfred Reu said he is not happy with the 1-all draw result saying that his boys could have done better.

“Though they lost to Hekari but to hold Port Moresby Strikers to a 1-all draw is something they can build on going forward,” the Manam Islander said.

Reu said the boys will have to regroup and look forward to another match next Saturday.

Their game was supposed to be part of the double header games on Saturday 15^th July 2023, however, due to flight cancellation and delays were unable to play as they arrived very late on Saturday.

Many fans were disappointed with their no show on the double header, but they did not disappoint the next day for the rescheduled game with Madang FC on Sunday 16^th July 2023 at 2pm. The game proved to be tough for both teams.

The visitors hit the front in the third minute when Captain Stahl Gubag scored off a cross kick.

Emmanuel Airem took Madang out to 3-0 at the break scoring twice in the 20th and again in the 32nd minute.

Rallied on by their supporters, the home side staged a fightback.

Richard Alois powered his side back into the contest striking twice in the 62nd and then again six minutes later to reduce the deficit to one point.

But Southern Strikers failed to make the most of their chances to score allowing a weary Madang side to win the match.

The Maurie Wasi-coached side finished last in Pool C of the OFC Champions League 2018 after a winless campaign in New Zealand.

The results:

Lautoka FC def. Madang FC 3-1

Auckland City FC def. Madang FC 5-0

AS Venus def. Madang FC 2-1

“We are good enough to go back and qualify again for next year but we need to fix a lot of things at the club and organise things professionally.

“We’ll try to get back next year with a strong enough squad and good preparation to really try to have a go at it,” said Wasi.

Tehau put his Tahiti side in front scoring in the 12th minute.

But Madang equalized through captain Neil Hans to leave the score locked at 1-1 at half-time.

The match looked certain to end in a draw until the 90th when Tehau found the back of the net again to give AS Venus third place in the final Pool C standings of the OFC Champions League 2018.

Madang finished last in fourth spot with no wins.

In the match after, Auckland City FC edged past Lautoka FC 1-0 to finish first in Pool C, and secure a home quarter-final.

Pool C final standings:

The Fijian side pushed out to a 2-0 lead with goals to Benjamin Totori in the 21^st and Cory Chettleburgh eleven minutes later.

Madang fired back minutes before the break through midfielder Maskulan Pulung.

However, Lautoka secured the win in late in the second half when Brian Kaltack found the back of the nets to register the first win in Pool C.

Next up for Madang FC will be the defending champions Auckland City FC. This match is scheduled for next Wednesday, February 28 at 4pm (1pm PNG time).

Madang FC, Lautoka FC, AS Venus and defending champions Auckland City FC make up the pool.

The opening match will be between Madang FC and Fiji’s Lautoka FC at 1pm (10am PNG time) this Sunday.

Following this AS Venus from Tahiti takes on the home side Auckland City FC starting at 4pm.

The format is the same with the top two teams to advance on to the quarter-finals.

PNG’s other team in the Champions League, Lae City Dwellers FC, made history last Friday by becoming the second team from PNG to advance past the pool matches after finishing second in Pool A.

Madang FC will fly the PNG flag in pool C in Auckland, New Zealand from  February 25 to  March 4, 2018, facing Lautoka FC of Fiji, Auckland City FC of New Zealand and AS Venus of Tahiti.

 “You can show their support by purchasing a ticket or table for the fundraising dinner being organised at the Lamana Hotel in Port Moresby tomorrow night (7pm-9pm), “said Chairman of the Madang FC Board, Dr Miok Komolong.

Prices are: K300 per person/K3, 000 per table.

In Port Moresby, Southern Strikers FC def. FC Morobe Wawens 4-3 at the Bisini Grounds, while in Lae, Toti City FC def. FC Momase 2-1 at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium.

Up at Laiwaden Oval in Madang, hosts Madang FC def. Buang FC 6-1.

Besta PNG United FC had the bye this weekend.

The PNG Kapuls captain spent whole of last year playing in Australia and is now ready to help his home side at the Champions League.

Michael Foster is a household soccer name in Madang and he spent whole of last year in Australia playing with Geelong Football club with countryman Hillary Harry Jenkins, before joining Malaita Kingz of Solomon Islands towards the end of 2017.

Foster brings with him a formidable international record of 32 games and seven goals.