Tupapa Maraerenga FC have secured an important 14-0 win in a fiery encounter against a Vaiala Tonga SC that saw four players sent off at Teufaiva Stadium in Nuku’alofa yesterday.

Needing a win to keep their chances of advancing to the OFC Men’s Champions League in May, Tupapa Maraerenga made the perfect start – Gichin Fuhiniu producing the goal of the tournament so far, with an acrobatic bicycle kick to give his side the lead inside two minutes.

Then the flood gates opened with the Cook Islands side scoring in quick succession. Striker Lee Harmon expertly dispatched a loose ball in the box with some venom, before his brother Grover then got on the score sheet one minute later.

A fantastic solo dribble from Dylan Connolly set up Tupapa’s fourth of the match. The Irishman glided through Vaiala’s defence before his initial shot was saved by the goalkeeper, only to fall nicely to Lee Harmon who bagged his second.

When it looked like the goals had dried up, that man again Lee Harmon found himself on the end of a great cross to notch up his hat-trick.

Nearing half-time things got heated on the park between both sides. A scuffle led to a few punches thrown and red cards were shown to Vaiala Tonga defender David Tua and midfielder Vaha Tua, reducing their side to nine men.

It only got worse for Vaiala Tonga with Lee Harmon scoring his fourth and fifth goals in stoppage time prior to the half-time whistle.

Down to nine players Vaiala did well to hold Tupapa scoreless in the second half for the first quarter of an hour but their defence was finally cracked in the 67th minute, a great through ball for Connolly was tucked the ball away well.

The Irishman then played provider after making a great run through the Vaiala defence, before teeing up an easy tap in for Lee Harmon. The striker was in the action just minutes later, scoring his seventh of the match.

It became a matter of more goals towards the final whistle for Tupapa – Paea Fanua getting in on the action, notching the team’s 11th goal of the match.

Frustration and fatigue started to set in for Vaiala and Tupapa took full advantage, Fuhiniu made it 12, before substitute Marcus Gibbons added a 13th.

Tensions that had building throughout the match flared again in stoppage time. Some pushing and shoving resulted in a red card for Vaiala substitute Saia Jr. Afu and a second yellow card for golden boy Lee Harmon.

Then, with virtually the last kick of the game, Dylan Connolly drilled a low shot into the back of the net to cap off a 14-0 victory for Tupapa Maraerenga.

In the other match, Veitongo FC and Vaivase-Tai FC match ended in a stalemate.

• OFC Media

Result

Tupapa Maraerenga FC: 14 (Gichin FUHINIU 1′, 82′, Lee HARMON 4′, 16′, 31′, 45’+4′, 45’+7′, 73′, 75′, Grover HARMON 5′, Dylan CONNOLLY 67′, 90+10′ Daniel TAOKIA 79′, Marcus GIBBENS 84′)|

Vaiala Tonga SC: 0. HT: 7-0