Tupapa draw in Tonga

At the first day of the O League Preliminary tournament, Tupapa-Maraerenga premier men’s football team drew against host team Tonga’s Lotoha’apai United three goals a piece on Monday afternoon at Loto-Tonga Centre in Atele.

Tupapa-Maraerenga’s first goal came through Campbell Best mid way through the first half where he shot a close-range goal in the thirty seventh minute.

In the second spell Tupapa-Maraerenga scored their second goal through Leo Berlim to lead the match much to the delight of the team and management.

Tonga’s Lotoha’apai replied with their first goal within ten minutes of Tupapa’s second goal however Berlim found the back of the net just minutes later to lead the match by three goals to one. With 20 minutes of play remaining, Tonga’s champions managed to squeeze through two goals to equalise the score.

Tupapa-Maraerenga player-coach Tony Jamieson praised his team for their efforts throughout the match.

“It was a good result for us in that we are playing in Tonga in front of a crowd who were very supportive of their team,” he says.

“Just need to polish up a few basics before our next game against Samoa’s Kiwi champions.”

In the previous game Samoa’s Kiwi side defeated American Samoa’s Pago Youth by five goals to one.

The Tupapa-Maraerenga team will square off against Samoa’s Kiwi side today at 4.30pm (CI time) while Lotoha’apai United will take on American Samoa’s Pago Youth in the earlier game at 2pm (CIT).