Kalani stuns second-seed Punahou in 3-2 thriller


Kalani's Leo Klink celebrates a goal in the 80th minute to give the Falcons a 3-2 win over Punahou. Greg Yamamoto | SL
WAIPIO- An unbelievable second goal by Leo Klink edged the Falcons of Kalani over defending state champion and second-seed Punahou, 3-2, in the quarterfinals of the HHSAA/Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Boys Soccer Championships.

Kalani will face Kapolei, a 4-0 winner over Baldwin, in the 5 p.m. semifinal tomorrow.

"I'm very proud and a little stunned" said Kalani coach Michael Ching. "We knew we could do this," he continued.

The first goal came in the 38th minute of the first half off the foot of Punahou's Quincy Marting. The goal by the senior ricocheted off a Kalani defender and into the back of the net.

"We did ok, but Kalani played well," Punahou coach David Trifonovitch said. "Tonight they were a better team."

Kalani responded in the second half with a goal in the 50th minute by Kevin Carroll, who made a brilliant tap on the ball and finished it into the goal. The goal by the senior was initially set up after a well placed through ball found its way past several Punahou defenders.

"I don't even remember the goal actually," Carroll said. "I was just happy we got back in the game."

Ten minutes later, Carroll put more points on the board. Off an assist by junior Leo Klink, Carroll was able to pop the ball into the back of the net from inside the 18 yard box.

Carroll is actually a transfer student from the neighbor islands. Originally wanting to go Mililani, he finally decided to go to Kalani. Playing with a hurt ankle suffered earlier in the tournament, Carroll still proved to be a valuable asset to Kalani tonight.

"I know he's hurting right now," Ching said. "For him to do what he does, I can't be more happy for him. He's really the heart of our team right now."

The Punahou equalized in 72nd minute when a cross by Alex Lam connected with senior Quincy Marting who finished the goal after dancing past a couple Kalani defenders before taking his shot. The goal by Marting, his second of the game, would be Punahou's final score of the night.

"(Kalani) the boys just proved me wrong." Ching said "When they got the second goal, I was honestly thinking more overtime than game winner."

And the game seemed headed to overtime, but in the early moments of the 80th minute, a remarkable goal by Leo Klink would end the contest in regulation.

After a long send by the keeper, Klink received the ball on the Punahou side of the field. Maneuvering his way past Punahou defenders, a final cut by the junior set him up for an unbelievable bullet of a shot just over the left shoulder of the Punahou keeper. The goal sealed the victory for Kalani, as the final whistle was blown several moments later.

"It's a great feeling. It's unexplainable," Klink said. "I didn't know how much time I had left, but I just did what I do best and score goals."

"He's been special all year," Ching said. "(After the goal) the beautifulness of it was he just cut in and took an unstoppable shot."


Reach Aven Santiago at [email protected].