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Utulei, Pago play to thrilling draw


Tuaoloina ‘Stein’ Solofa (left) of the Tafuna Jets in an attacking run against Faiai Ioapo of PanSa during a men’s game on Match Day 4 of the 2016 FFAS National League on Saturday, Sept. 10, at Pago Park Soccer Stadium.
  [FFAS MEDIA/Brian Vitolio]Green Bay player clears the ball against Ilaoa & To’omata during a men’s game on Match Day 4 of the 2016 FFAS National League on Saturday, Sept. 10, at Pago Park Soccer Stadium.
  [FFAS MEDIA/Brian Vitolio]
Gabriel Taumua, left, of PagoYouth defends against Utulei Youth’s Ne’emia Kaleopa during the men’s Cup match of the 2016 FFAS National League’s Match Day 4 on Saturday, Sept. 10, at Pago Park Soccer Stadium.
  [FFAS MEDIA/Rupeni Luvu]
Iosia Tasi of Black Roses defends against a Royal Puma attacker to give his goalie time to collect the ball during a men’s game on Match Day 4 of the 2016 FFAS National League on Saturday, Sept. 10, at Pago Park Soccer Stadium.
  [FFAS MEDIA/Brian Vitolio]Uasi Heleta, left, of Lion Heart heads the ball away from Vaiala Tongan opponent Misi Musu during a men’s game on Match Day 4 of the 2016 FFAS National League on Saturday, Sept. 10, at Pago Park Soccer Stadium.
  [FFAS MEDIA/Brian Vitolio]The Utulei Youth men’s team with their FFAS National Cup after retaining it in a 1-1 draw with Pago Youth during the men’s Cup match of the 2016 FFAS National League’s Match Day 4 on Saturday, Sept. 10, at Pago Park Soccer Stadium.
  [FFAS MEDIA/Rupeni Luvu]

Utulei Youth and Pago Youth, the top two teams in the National League, played to a thrilling, 1-1 draw on Match Day 4 of the 2016 FFAS National League.

In other games played on Saturday, Sept. 10, it was Tafuna Jets 2, PanSa 0; Ilaoa & To’omata 2, Green Bay 0; Lion Heart 3, Vaiala Tongan 0 and Black Roses 2, Royal Puma 1.

Pago Youth, Utulei and the Tafuna Jets, in that order, are the top three teams in the competition with 10 points each on similar records of 3-1-0. In terms of the tiebreaker, Pago is ahead of Utulei Youth (13-10) in the goals differential while Tafuna has four.

UTULEI YOUTH 1, PAGO YOUTH 1

Everything was on the line for both teams: the men’s FFAS National Cup, the undefeated record and the No. 1 spot in the standings.

Utulei’s Kome Tomasi scored after a Elama Fa’atonu headed a ball from midfield towards the Pago penalty area. Tomasi made the shot to the far post from just inside the penalty box and a diving goalie, Bemjamin ‘Kimbo’ Fualuga could not make the save.

It took Pago Youth numerous attempts to finally equalize, and just in time with Desmond Tupa’i blasting in a shot from inside the goalie’s box with five minutes to play.

That was the only blemish of the day for Utulei goalie, Joe Fa’agata, allowing the lone goal by Tupa’i after putting up a brilliant game against Pago Youth. He made many a save against the league’s top team, and against some of the competition’s best players. Pago Youth dominated the attacking game, but for most of the match, Fa’agata was able to handle the storm with ease.

TAFUNA JETS 2, PANSA 0

Peter Alosio scored two goals against PanSa (0-0-4), one in each half, to help the Jets win their third straight game to go along with a tie from the first week of the competition.

It could have been more for Tafuna but they missed some obvious, goal scoring opportunities in the game.

IlAOA & TO’OMATA 2, GREEN BAY 0

Gun Kang and Zedi Devesi scored for Ilaoa & To’omata (2-1-1) in the first half to help their team win 2-0 against Green Bay (1-0-3).

Ilaoa & To’omata’s win helps them bounce back from a 2-1 loss last week against Lion Heart, while this is Green Bay’s second loss in a row.

LION HEART 3, VAIALA TONGAN 0

Lion Heart (3-0-1) is on a two-game win streak after a 2-0 triumph against Vaiala Tongan (2-0-2).

Enoka Foluena, Harvey Manu and Charmaney Faatupuinati all scored for Lion Heart.

BLACK ROSES 2, ROYAL PUMA 1

Black Roses (1-0-3) earned their first win of the season thanks to goals from Falanisisi Tomasi and Tunoa Su’a. Su’a, a second half substitute, scored the game-winner.

Iosefa Sione scored for Royal Puma (0-0-4), and they went into the halftime break leading 1-0.