Kossa FC edged Honiara City FC 6-5 in an extraordinary Telekom S-League encounter on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, a match that delivered eleven goals, multiple lead changes and a dramatic finish in the Solomon Islands top flight.

Matches with five or six goals are memorable. A contest with eleven is rare. Honiara City FC and Kossa FC produced an end-to-end spectacle that swung one way and then the other, with defensive organisation giving way to attacking chaos for long stretches. By the final whistle, Kossa had claimed all three points, but Honiara City were left to wonder how a game they had fought so hard in ended in defeat.

Match overview

The Telekom S-League fixture promised an open contest, and it delivered almost immediately. Kossa FC started brightly, pressing high and looking to attack through the wide channels. Honiara City FC responded with direct running of their own, and the early exchanges set a pattern that would define the afternoon: both teams were willing to commit numbers forward, and both defences struggled to cope with the pace of the game.

Kossa struck first, capitalising on a quick break down the right. Honiara City equalised soon after, with a well-worked move that ended in a low finish. The hosts then took the lead for the first time, only for Kossa to level again before half-time. At 2-2, the game was already a thriller, but the second half would take the scoring to another level.

First half: early warning signs

Kossa’s opener came after a sustained spell of pressure. Their midfield won the ball in the attacking third and moved it quickly to the edge of the box, where a composed finish gave the Honiara City goalkeeper no chance. It was a reward for Kossa’s positive start and a warning to the hosts that their defensive line needed to be sharper.

Honiara City’s response was encouraging. Their equaliser came from a patient build-up on the left, with the ball eventually worked into the box for a close-range finish. The home side then edged ahead after a scramble from a corner, forcing the ball over the line despite Kossa’s attempts to clear.

Kossa, however, were never likely to lie down. They restored parity before the break with a fine individual effort, cutting inside from the flank and curling a shot beyond the goalkeeper. The half-time score of 2-2 reflected the openness of the contest and set up a second half that would become increasingly frantic.

Second half: goals, errors and momentum swings

The second half was barely underway before the scoring resumed. Kossa regained the lead with a header from a cross, but Honiara City hit back almost immediately through a powerful run and finish. The match had become a sequence of attacks, with both midfields struggling to slow the tempo.

Kossa moved 4-3 ahead after a defensive mistake presented them with a clear chance, and they extended the advantage to 5-3 with a well-taken goal on the counter. At that stage, the visitors looked to have taken control. Honiara City, however, refused to fold. A quickfire double brought the score back to 5-5, lifting the home crowd and setting up a tense final period.

With both teams pushing for a winner, the game became stretched. Honiara City had a chance to take the lead from a free-kick, but the effort went just wide. Kossa then found the decisive moment, breaking forward in the closing minutes and finishing calmly to make it 6-5. The final whistle followed soon after, sparking celebrations from the Kossa players and disbelief around the ground.

Key moments

• Kossa’s opener: A quick attacking transition set the tone for an open contest.
• Honiara City’s first lead: The hosts capitalised on a set-piece scramble to go ahead.
• Kossa’s half-time equaliser: A curling effort made it 2-2 and kept the visitors in touch.
• The second-half surge: Kossa moved 5-3 ahead and appeared to be pulling away.
• Honiara City’s comeback: Two quick goals levelled the match at 5-5.
• The late winner: Kossa’s decisive break in the closing minutes settled an unforgettable contest.

Tactical story

This was not a match for cautious tactics. Both teams pressed aggressively and committed players forward, which created space in behind and led to a series of transitional opportunities. Honiara City tried to use their home advantage by pushing the full-backs high, but that left them exposed to Kossa’s quick counter-attacks.

Kossa’s willingness to attack through the wide areas proved decisive. Their wingers repeatedly isolated Honiara City’s defenders, and their midfield runners arrived late in the box to add numbers. Honiara City, meanwhile, showed plenty of spirit and attacking quality of their own, but their defen