The Tupapa Maraerenga premier men and senior women were victorious in the CIFA cup final while Puaikura made it two for two in the U14’s boys and girls divisions. Both the Tupapa Maraerenga senior women and premier men have secured the round cup’s and CIFA cup’s in both divisions, this is the first time in Cook Islands football history that one club has managed to claim both cups in both division in a single year. Further to their achievement, Tupapa have won the CIFA cup for the second year in a row.
The intense premier men’s final had the crowd on edge with no goals being scored in the first half but four finding the net in the second.
The first of the four goals would come in the 62’ minute, Tupapa’s Frali Henry takes the throw in and plays the ball to Geoffrey Strickland who is in the Nikao 18-yard box. He attempts to turn but is held by Alfred Ngire and a penalty is awarded in the box for Tupapa. Grover Harmon stepped up to take the kick, who buried the ball into the net to secure the first goal of the match.
Nikao’s reply was a fantastic overhead kick in the box seven minutes later. Cajun Willis takes the corner kick awarded to Nikao. He plays the ball into the Tupapa box but Avi Enoka clears the ball Basil Matapo is the first to the ball and tries his luck. The ball goes directly to his teammate, Steven Willis who flicks the ball up and bicycle kicks the ball into the goal to level the scores.
Tupapa would score the third goal of the match when Mii Joseph caught the Nikao goalkeeper off guard. Nikao’s Basil Matapo would attempt to throw the ball in to his teammate but James Osinamo wins it and begins the Tupapa counter attack. He plays the ball to Geoffrey Strickland who quickly makes his pass to Mii Joseph. Joseph realizes the keeper is out of his box and lobs the ball over him and into the net, taking the score to 2-1.
Nikao would level the scores again after being awarded a penalty in the box with 9 minutes to go. Basil Matapo takes a Nikao free-kick near halfway. He plays the ball to Samuel Koiatu who turns and tries to find space to shoot, he makes a run but is fouled in the box winning his side a penalty. Owenne Matapo takes the kick and equalizes the score again.
With the scores locked at 2-2 by the time the final whistle blew, the match would be decided by a penalty shootout. Tupapa scores all their attempts while an unlucky Nikao missed one making Tupapa the 2019 premier men’s CIFA cup winners.
Just before the premier men was the animated match between the Titikaveka and Tupapa Maraerenga senior women.
The match kicked off in a bang with Tupapa striking early. In the 4’ minute Kura Tare flicked the ball forward from the keeper’s kick and chased down the ball before slipping it past the Titikaveka goalkeeper to put her side up 1-0.
Titikaveka’s reply came in the 25’ minute when Natalia Short tried her luck striking the ball from near halfway. The ball floated over the Tupapa goal keeper and into the net to level the scores.
Play resumed with a few promising chances coming about but none found the net. The scores were locked at 1-all at full-time and a penalty shootout would decide the winning team.
Titikaveka slipped two into the hands of the Tupapa goalkeeper and scoring the rest while Tupapa would score all but one to take the final score to 7-6 in favour of Tupapa deeming them the 2019 CIFA cup winners.
The U14 girls kicked off the day taking the field at 12:30pm. Matavera scored early to put Puaikura on the back foot. Puaikura we’re down 1-0 at halftime but made a significant comeback in the second half to secure a 3-2 win. Their goals were scored by Teupoko Tuariki and Pekarau Mataio while their opponents, Matavera-Ngatangiia’s goals were scored by Here Mapu (2)
In the U14 Boys final the match, the scores remained level for most of the match until a late clincher by Puaikura’s Nia Remuera in the 40’ minute sealed their fate and Puaikura emerged as the winners.
FULL RESULTS FROM THE FINALS:
U7 Mixed
Tupapa Maraerenga FC 0-1 Avatiu FC
U9 Mixed
Avatiu FC 5-2 Nikao Sokattak FC
U11 Mixed
Titikaveka FC 3-1 Matavera FC
U14 Girls
Puaikura FC 3-2 Matavera-Ngatangiia FC
U14 Boys
Puaikura FC 1-0 Tupapa Maraerenga FC
U17 Men
Tupapa Maraerenga FC 1-2 Puaikura FC
Senior Women
Tupapa Maraerenga FC 7-6 Titikaveka FC
Premier Men
Tupapa Maraerenga 9-8 Nikao Sokattak FC
