Double up for Totori and Maemae in New Zealand Football Championship

YoungHeart Manawatu moved back into second place in the New Zealand Football Championship with a comfortable 5-2 win over Waikato FC in Palmerston North yesterday afternoon, thanks to goals from Solomon Islanders Alick Maemae and Benjamin Totori.

The two goals apiece from Benjamin Totori and Alick Maemae helped Manawatu to leapfrog back over Auckland City. Manawatu wasted no time in opening the scoring against with Alick Maemae beating several defenders for a superb individual effort.

Manawatu had several chances to extend their lead but Waikato were back on level terms midway through the first half when Matt Williams converted a penalty.

Waikato enjoyed parity for less than four minutes with Totori getting his first and the game was over as a contest just before the break with Maemae scoring his second with a long range scorcher.

After a quiet start to the second half Manawatu add to their tally a goal from their captain, Ian Robinson before Waikato got one back through Matt Williams second.

Fittingly it was Manawatu and Totori who had the final say with the Solomon Island striker scoring his 18th goal of the season to wrap up the three points for Manawatu.

In an earlier match on Saturday, another Solomon Islander Commins Menapi scored a goal in the 6oth minute to help his Waitakere United side beat Hawkes Bay 3-1 and extending their lead at the top of the table.

Source: NZFC