Defending has been pretty poor all game but really impressed with the fitness and energy of these two teams. A lot of transitions and running but very few of them even look tired!
South Island United leading! Real mixup from the SM keeper on a long pass and Haris Zeb tucks away from the scrambles. 1-0 and SM looking a bit vulnerable
Not impressed with the celebration afterwards. Something Football in general really needs to clamp down and cut out on. When a guy gets down on his hands and knees and does a full on prayer, Fans don't pay to see that. Spent more time doing that than scoring a nice goal.
Didn't Haris lose a mate in the Christchurch mosque attack? Maybe that celebration was paying respect to them.
He's had alot of tough setbacks - losing friends in that mosque attack, 5 surgeries on his foot - all power to him with his celebration.
Has Muslim football academies in both Auckland his hometown ChCh. Now a Pakistan national team player. If he's a great role model for young Muslim kids in NZ, to play the beautiful game that should be embraced.
South Island United leading! Real mixup from the SM keeper on a long pass and Haris Zeb tucks away from the scrambles. 1-0 and SM looking a bit vulnerable
Not impressed with the celebration afterwards. Something Football in general really needs to clamp down and cut out on. When a guy gets down on his hands and knees and does a full on prayer, Fans don't pay to see that. Spent more time doing that than scoring a nice goal.
Didn't Haris lose a mate in the Christchurch mosque attack? Maybe that celebration was paying respect to them.
He's had alot of tough setbacks - losing friends in that mosque attack, 5 surgeries on his foot - all power to him with his celebration.
Has Muslim football academies in both Auckland his hometown ChCh. If he's a great role model for young Muslim kids in NZ, to play the beautiful game that should be embraced.
Apologies, I knew none of that information so I can understand it.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
Just a crazy game, very unlike some of the others we've seen in this comp.
Just massive swings in momentum, very poor day from both defences and arguably not the best from the keepers too. Great fitness from both teams but really neither deserved to win or lose.
For South Island some promising signs indeed going forward - felt like this was the game that Zeb, Yoo and Feutz really clicked and at times cut them apart with ease.
Vanuatu started very brightly here, had all the chances and already opened the scoring. Hekari gotta improve, SI on saturday won't be any earlier and it would be pretty gutting for them not to win at home
Of the six games between the island teams, four have ended in a draw with only Bula 1-0 Solomons and Solomons 1-0 PNG ending in a result.
Compare that to their results against the Aus/NZ teams - in seven matches, the island teams have lost every game, scoring just three and conceding 19. This would be such an exciting league if it were just between the island teams but so far it's just AFC, and to a lesser extent South Melbourne, streaking away.
Hopefully that changes soon! Solomon Kings v South Island this afternoon followed by Bula FC v South Melbourne
Of the six games between the island teams, four have ended in a draw with only Bula 1-0 Solomons and Solomons 1-0 PNG ending in a result.
Compare that to their results against the Aus/NZ teams - in seven matches, the island teams have lost every game, scoring just three and conceding 19. This would be such an exciting league if it were just between the island teams but so far it's just AFC, and to a lesser extent South Melbourne, streaking away.
Hopefully that changes soon! Solomon Kings v South Island this afternoon followed by Bula FC v South Melbourne
To be fair, all of the island teams have been close to a result against the ANZ teams! I think its just that on a good day its a very competitive loss and on a bad day it's a thrashing.
For examples btw: Bula - close 1-0 loss to Auckland where they had a lot of pressure Vanuatu - pushed SIU hard in a narrow loss Tahiti - led against and almost drew with SM if not for that late winner Hekari - 0-0 with Auckland for much of the game
So I think coming in and framing it around 7 games 7 losses and a goal count of 3-19 is a bit disingenous.
Solomon Kings should feel pretty aggrieved if they don't pick up the three points here. Been the far better side today.
Controlled possession, decent pressing effort, and some good chances created. SIU for the most part have just been hitting long balls, especially in this second half, over a pretty non existent midfield.