Totori And Menapi On Target

Benjamin Totori and Commins Menapi both got their names on the score sheet to help their team win in the first round of the New Zealand Football Championship. Totori scored the 89th winner to complete YoungHeart Manawatu's comeback from a goal down against Wellington, Manawatu wining 1-2 in the end. Menapi meanwhile scored on debut for Waitakere United as they thumped Waikato 1-3.

Other Solomon Islanders to feature in the weekend action include Henry Fa'arodo and Batram Suri for Canterbury United, Nelson Sale and Alick Maemae for YoungHeart Manawatu, Stanley Waita for Waikato FC, and George Suri for Waitakere United.

YoungHeart Manawatu will take on current title holders Auckland United in their next game while Menapi's Waitakere United face off against Suri's Canterbury United next week.

Standings after Round 1:
Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
Waitakere United 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2 3
Canterbury United 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 3
YoungHeart Manawatu 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 3
Auckland United 1 0 1 0 2 2 0 1
Otago United 1 0 1 0 2 2 0 1
Waikato FC 1 0 0 1 1 2 -1 0
Hawkes Bay United 1 0 0 1 1 2 -1 0
Team Wellington 1 0 0 1 1 3 -2 0

Round 1 Results:
Canterbury United 2-1 Hawkes Bay United
Auckland United 2-2 Otago United
Team Wellington 1-2 YoungHeart Manawatu
Waikato FC 1-3 Waitakere United

Round 2 Fixtures:
YoungHeart Manawatu vs Auckland United
Waitakere United vs Canterbury United
Otago United vs Waikato FC
Hawkes Bay United vs Team Wellington

Further links:
Official NZFC website
NZFC Fixtures
Solomons pair spark victory