BY TONY IROGA
Solomon Kings is now sitting in the fourth spot behind Bula FC with 15 points after a draw with South Melbourne FC in final concluding match for circuit-4 yesterday at the Solomon Islands National Stadium.
The goal yesterday was scored by Javin Wae which lifted the home crowd to a high atmosphere when a corner kick delivery to the back post was then headed by Javin Wae past Charlston to give the Kings the lead.
Within dying seconds of the game, South Melbourne equalised with a goal by Charlie Leech who nudged the ball over the line following inside the penalty box.
In the recent game South Melbourne defeated Solomon Kings 5-0 when they met 15 days earlier, as behind on by a home crowd, the Kings proved much changes yesterday.
Solomon Kings FC played against South Melbourne FC in 2 matches this season, Currently Solomon Kings FC ranks 4th, while South Melbourne FC is in the 2nd position with 19 points.
According to Solomon Kings coach Ben Cahn, his team is playing well and gave all that he expected but the last dying seconds goal of South Melbourne put the Kings in the fourth spot.
He said Lea’i and Jordan Swibel were the recipients of one-on-one opportunities at either end inside the opening 20 minutes, only to be denied by their respective opposing goalkeepers – Junior Petua for Solomon Kings, and Jake Charlston for South Melbourne.
He added it hurts a lot and he is disappointed for everybody who came to the stadium and everybody watching at home that they couldn’t get the three points, but he thinks the bigger picture is really special.
“I think we did something amazing tonight and it’s the start of a great journey for Solomons football,” he said.
He said South Melbourne pushed them on and the boys wanted so much to win for the crowd tonight and it’s a shame that they didn’t get the three points.
“There was so much time in the game where we were sat around waiting and it was really hard for us in the second half in particular to find the rhythm and the tempo that we wanted to play,” he said.
A dramatic late South Melbourne FC equaliser has stunned a sell-out crowd at the National Stadium in Honiara yesterday, securing a 1-1 with Solomon Kings FC to conclude Round 4 of the OFC Pro League.
In addition, Ben Cahn followed suit with three changes of his own, including the reintroduction of Raphael Lea’i to the starting eleven.
Fuelled by the electric atmosphere inside the National Stadium, both teams played at pace in a breathless and highly transitional start.
Solomon Kings and South Melbourne teams now look forward to Round 5 of the OFC Pro League in Fiji in April 2026.
Photo credit: Tony Iroga
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