IT took extra time and penalty kicks for Mataks FC to down the unbeaten Waikato Rapids in the OFC Futsal Men’s Champions League in Suva.
The Waikato Rapids put Mataks FC down easily in the round robin pool stages, but the Solomon Islanders were on fire in the final.
Casey Sharplin and Benjamin Bordin looked dangerous for Waikato each time they closed in on the Mataks goal.
A freekick just outside the box gave Bordin the first goal but Mataks were not shaken and Calvin Do’oro nailed the equalizer one minute later.
Bordin scored with a pile driver from a set piece and Mataks searched without luck for the equalizer. Waikato led 2 – 1 at halftime.
There was a shift in momentum early in the second half for the Mataks. Elis Mana rolled a long and low pass into open space for Owen Bunabo to score the equaliser.
Bunabo’s field vision allowed the Mataks to initiate the attack, put Waikato under pressure in the box and release Eddie Kasute’e to score. Waikato looked stunned for the first time in the tournament.
The battle was far from over and a mistake by Mataks goalkeeper Lordrick Afi gave Maxwell Ericksen the chance to lock the scores at 3-3 at fulltime.
Late in the extra time, Calvin Do’oro beat goalkeeper Corbin Fell but Ericksen levelled the scores.
Forced to penalty kicks, Mataks emerged 12 – 11 on the last kick to claim OFC Futsal Men’s Champions League glory.