Keep the faith, defender urges fans

Bula FC defender Sterling Vasconcellos has urged their fans to keep believing in them as they want to turn things around in their next match in Melbourne, Australia.

This was after Bula FC lost 2-0 to Solomon Kings FC in their OFC Pro League clash on Saturday night.

“We’ll try our best to make it up,” Vasconcellos said as they take on South Is-land FC on Wednesday at the Home of the Matildas.

Solomon Kings made it three wins from their last four matches. Having struggled in their defeat to Vanuatu United, Ben Cahn’s side were determined to right the ship and started brightly, being on top for most of the opening 45 minutes.

It was the usual suspects to the fore for Solomon Kings, with Sota Higashide, Jez Lofthouse and Junior David all looking threatening as Bula FC struggled to find a foothold.

Just under 20 minutes was on the clock when the well-deserved breakthrough arrived. Fordney Junior played the ball into Lofthouse, who laid the ball off to Junior David.

David then played Lofthouse through on goal and the Australian finished from the inside-right channel with aplomb.

Higashide almost doubled the lead with-in minutes, but flashed his effort narrowly wide of Didier Desprez’s left-hand post, before Clivert Sam headed wide when left unmarked from a corner.

Bula FC were almost gifted a way back in shortly before half-time, when David Supa misjudged a header back to Phillip Mango, but the goalkeeper reacted quickly to bail out his defender with a good save.

To their credit, Bula FC raised their game in the second period but were still struggling to create much in the way of clear chances. Stephane Auvray turned to his bench, bringing on Roy Krishna, Fergus Gillion and Kaile Auvray in an at-tempt to turn the tide and find a way back into the contest.

Maikah Dau had a half chance to level the score, turning Clivert Sam inside out but slashing his subsequent effort high and wide when he should have hit the target.

Solomon Kings remained a threat at the other end and their second goal inevitably arrived with fifteen minutes remaining. Fordney Junior was played through on goal and as he shot, was dragged down by Delon Shankar in the box.

Referee Mederic Lacour pointed to the spot and, despite being summoned for a VAR check, stuck to his original decision to award the penalty. Sota Higashide took the responsibility and tucked his effort into the top corner expertly, leaving Didier Desprez with no chance.

“Nothing much you can do and Solomon Kings deserve to win because they want-ed it more than us,” Vasconcellos said.

Bula continued to work hard in search of a way back in. Yuta Konagaya forced Mango into an excellent reflex save before Auvray fired over from a tight angle.

Fifteen minutes of additional time was signaled, but it wasn’t to be for Bula and Solomon Kings held on cement their position in third place.