The 2024 Minor Premiers and reigning champions of the Port Moresby Soccer Association (PMSA) competition, Mungkas FC failed to defend their title, going down to the determined PS Rutz side with a 1-0 loss on Sunday, October 20th, at Sir John Guise Stadium.
This match lived up to the hype and expectations of the vocal crowd who turned up to support their respective teams, giving the fans a money’s worth performance that was befitting of the grand final atmosphere.
A physical and competitive first half saw the game end in a deadlock, locking the points at nil-all in the first 45 minutes of arm wrestling football.
The intensity continued in the second half. Both sides were attacking and counter attacking each other but credit to their strong defence, no one managed to find the back of the net.
As the game reached the final quarter, the PS Rutz were on an attacking raid at Mungkas territory, where they scored a match-winner and reclaimed their third championship after seven years.
Despite being down on one player who received a red card in the last 15 minutes of play, the PS Rutz played courageously and managed to pull through, upsetting the reigning champions of PMSA.
Coach Tua Haro was lost for words and emotional when the full time hooter sounded. He couldn’t believe what had happened, praising his boys for defying the odds and getting the job done.
“Honestly, I wasn’t expecting this win. This is a very young team and to come this far, it’s unbelievable. All the credit goes back to the boys. Their commitment, discipline and hard work has paid off,” coach Haro said.
“We were down on the ladder last season and our aim this season was to finish in the top 5, but we surpassed our target and finished third at the end of the regular season. Winning the grand final was a bonus for us.”
Composed of a very youthful squad alongside a couple of experienced players, the PS Rutz look forward to defending their championship title in the 2025 Port Moresby Soccer Association season.
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