Lae City Dwellers will have to wait until 2017 to register a win in the OFC Champions League after missing out on achieving the historic win today.
They were denied a historic first-ever win in the OFC Champions League with a close 5-4 loss against Solomon Warriors at QBE Stadium in Auckland.
Dwellers wasted no time taking the lead 1-0 three minutes into the game when an intended cross from captain Raymond Gunemba found its way inside the opposition’s near post.
Warriors responded quickly in spectacular fashion when Brian Kaltack smashed a shot four minutes later through the grasp of goalkeeper Ronald Warisan from just outside the area to level 1-1.
Lae got back in the lead 2-1 in the 34th minute in fortuitous fashion as a miscued Dabinyaba effort is turned into his own net by the unfortunate Fred Fakari.
Nine minutes later, Warriors leveled the score 2-2 through Kensi Tangis, who ran onto a through ball and Lae defender Valantine Nelson prods it into the top corner of his net.
The score was leveled 2-2 at half-time.
In the second half, Warriors got back in the lead 3-2 when Jerry Donga ran onto a bouncing ball and forced his way around advancing goalkeeper Warisan before rolling home.
In the 66th minute, the game turned into a real thriller as Nigel Dabinyaba equalises for Lae 3-3, bursting down the right and finding the far corner with a low shot.
Ten minutes later, Lae extended the lead through Michael Foster 4-3.
Lae didn’t hold onto the lead for long as Warriors leveled the score again 4-4 one minute later through Molea Tigi, who found the net via the far upright.
Warriors extended the lead in the 87th minute when a free kick pinballs around in the area before Donga fired it home to take the Solomon Islanders to victory.
Dwellers end the tournament in fourth place on the Group A ladder.
Hekari United FC have missed out on qualifying for the semifinals after winning two of their round robin matches and end the tournament in second place on the Group B ladder.
(Picture courtesy of OFC Facebook page)