TAHITI PREVAIL IN BITTER CLASH

Tahiti recorded a 1-0 win over Cook Islands amid acrimonious scenes at Toleafoa JS Blatter Football Field in Apia this afternoon where referee Fiti Aimaasu was the busiest figure in a match where players from both teams lost their discipline.

Tahiti showed more interest in the opening half of this match than they had in their previous three matches and they had Cook Islands pegged back deep into their own half for long periods. Axel Williams - Tahiti's tall pacy striker - stood out yet again as a player of some quality constantly posing a threat to Cook Islands with his smart interplay with Roimoana Bennett and Teva Zaveroni.

The closest Cook Islands came to scoring was when Paul Luiz van Eijk overhit a cross deep to the far post that forced goalkeeper Jonathan Torohio into making a sharp readjustment at the last second to deflect the ball out for a corner.

By contrast, Cook Islands goalkeeper Tony Jamieson was required on a regular basis to quell frequent Tahitian forays into his penalty area with saves from Zaveroni, Tinorua and Tauimara enough to keep the scores level.

The mood changed after 53 minutes when Tahiti's Raimoana Bennett was sent off after he ploughed head long straight through Cook Islands goalkeeper Tony Jamieson leaving the goalkeeper in a crumpled still heap on the penalty spot. Cook Islands and Tahitian players descended on the scene of the collision as a pushing and shoving match ensued that threatened to spill out of control until Aimaasu assumed command with the help of his assistant referee.

The peaceful mood changed for the worst when Temarii Tinorua lobbed a ball over the top of Jamieson and into the Cook Islands net to make it 1-0 to Tahiti after 64 minutes. Even the most gifted clairvoyant could not have predicted the mayhem that would ensue just a minute later when first Miitamariki Joseph was red carded for Cook Islands, to be followed at lightening speed by team-mate Thomas Le Mouton for a crude challenge on Tinorua after 66 minutes.

With Cook Islands reduced to nine players, Tahiti to ten, the sparsely populated pitch still managed to host further flashpoints as the match descended further in value as a spectacle. Cook Islands missed one last chance through Augusty Bartillard and when the whistle ended Tahiti were grateful of their win but both teams had very little else to celebrate.

LIVE UPDATES:

0'- The FIFA anthemn rings out around Toleafoa JS Blatter Football Field in Apia, Samoa, as Cook Islands and Tahiti make their way onto the pitch for their final game at XIII South Pacific Games/FIFA World Cup qualifying

3'- Its a very slippery surface as the rain continues to fall on a very firm surface on pitch number two

5'- Tahiti have their first shot on goal but Tony JAMIESON is more than equal to the task for Cook Islands

7'- Long ball forward by Cook Islands behind the Tahiti defence and possession is given away as Billy Matatitai gains the ball for Tahiti

10'- Temarii TINORUA shoots from outside the Cook Islands penalty area but it's easily saved by JAMIESON

11'- Teva ZAVERONI to take a free kick for Tahiti on the right hand side of Cook Islands penalty area but again its Tony JAMIESON to the rescue as he plucks the ball off Billy MATAITAI's attempted header 

13'- Thomas LE MOUTON steals possession from ZAVERONI and makes an exciting burst down the left but he's cut off by Jean-Yves LI WA UT and its a corner

14'- Cook Islands corner is a poor one and Tahiti have possession again

15'- Axel WILLIAMS is denied by Cook Islands goal keeper Tony JAMIESON who makes a great save

17'- Tahiti apply pressure with a free kick but Cook Islands Steven WILLIS hacks the ball clear

18'- Another ball played in by Tahiti and JAMIESON makes a sprawling dive to reclaim the ball for Cook Islands

20'- Teariki MATEARIKI - Cook Islands two-goal hero from the Tuvalu match - wins a free kick for Cook Islands 

21'- Tahiti look highly motivated for this match dominating territory but without creating many clear cut chances

22'- Paul Luiz VAN EIJK thumps a long ball forward and its out for a Tahiti throw-in deep inside the French-Polynesian half

23'- Thomas LE MOUTON breaks forward and slips a ball in for Anonga TISAM but the striker is ruled offside

24'- Freddy TAUIMARA slings a hopeful 40 yard pass intended for Billy MATAITAI but its hit too hard and its a Cook Islands throw-in

25'- Axel WILLIAMS plays an intelligent one-two with Raimoana BENNETT but the return pass finds WILLIAMS offside

27'- Billy MATAITAI has a go from long range and Tony JAMIESON saves easily for the Cook Islands

28'- Cook Islands are being stretched by some quick interplay from TETAVAHI and MATAITAI

29'- TINORUA shoots but JAMIESON saves

32'- New Caledonia and Fiji are also locked at 0-0 in Group A's other match

34'- Cook Islands have acquitted themselves well but will have to watch they don't get caught on the break when they lose possession in midfield 

35'- Throw-in for Cook Islands and now MATERARIKI breaks but is caught in possession - ZAVERONI shoots from 20m and JAMIESON bumbles the ball after it skids off the slick surface but he recovers with WILLIAMS lingering for scraps

35'- Augusty BARTILLARD has a go from long distance but his shot lacked both the pace and accuracy to cause Jonathan TOROHIA any problems

36'- Anonga TISAM and Freddy TAUIMARA collide in a tough challenge on half way and referee Fiti AIMAASU issues TISAM with a stern warning.

37'- Its a Cook Islands fee kick played wide to VAN EIJK whose cross whistles in and forces TOROHIA into a desperate back pedalling save and its a corner for the Cook Islands 

38'- Steven WILLIS heads the resulting corner goalwards and TOROHIA saves - its another corner for Cook Islands

38'- SUBSTITUTION

#12. Anonga TISAM is replaced by #16. Daniel SHEPHERD for Cook Islands

40'- Tony JAMIESON comes screaming off his line to claim a TINORUA freekick but he drops the ball and a goal mouth scramble erupts with JAMIESON flailing - eventually Cook Islands clear the danger but what a heart stopping moment!

43'- TOROHIA claims a Cook Islands free kick easily and sets Tahiti away on a sweeping counter attack

45'- The first half comes to a close with no time added on  for stoppages and its a stale mate here between Tahiti and Cook Islands. 

HALF TIME: TAH 0 COK 0 

46'- Cook Islands take a free kick but the danger is repelled by Tahiti

47'- Axel WILLIAMS breaks quickly for Tahiti and Paul Luiz VAN EIJK makes an excellent tackle

48'- Tahiti corner is claimed by Tony JAMIESON

53'- RED CARD

#10. Raimoana BENNETT  of Tahiti is sent off for a shocking challenge on Cook Islands goalkeeper Tony JAMIESON 

55'- YELLOW CARD

#7. Billy MATAITAI of Tahiti goes into the book - will Tahiti self-destruct?

64'- GOAL!

#13. Temarii TINORUA scores for Tahiti and its 1-0 to Tahiti!

65'- RED CARD

#5. Miitamariki JOSEPH of Cook Islands is sent off for throwing an arm at Tahiti captain Teva ZAVERONI

66'- RED CARD

#8. Thomas LE MOUTON of Cook Islands is sent off for a reckless challenge

66'- YELLOW CARD

#1. Tony JAMIESON of Cook Islands is booked by the referee

66'- SUBSTITUTION

#13. Temarii TINORUA is replaced by #11. Auguste WASHETINE of Tahiti

66'- SUBSTITUTION

#2. Paul Luiz VAN EIJK is replaced by 3. Edward BROGAN of Cook Islands

67'- A crazy period of play and the pitch looks sparse with Cook Islands reduced to 9 players, Tahiti to 10, the score still reading 0-1 to Tahiti

70'- The match has descended into an ugly confrontation between two teams seemingly hell-bent on kicking lumps out of each other

79'- SUBSTITUTION

#13. Teariki MATEARIKI is replaced by #18. Nathan TISAM for Cook Islands

79'- SUBSTITUTION

#12. Hiro POROIAE is replaced #2. Teraimaru MERVIN for Tahiti

83'- Cross comes in from the left by MATAITAI but JAMIESON collects

85'- Cook Islands corner but its headed clear by Tahiti 

87'- MATAITAI shoots its out for a corner and the resulting set-play is defended by Cook Islands

89'- BARTILLARD is through on Tahiti's goal but his shot is palmed out by TOROHIA for a corner which is subsequently cleared

-- 6 minutes time added on --

90'+1 - WASHETINE shoots and JAMIESON saves

90 +2 - MATAITAI and WILLIAMS combine well but WILLIAMS shoots wide for Tahiti

90 +3- BARTILLARD is denied by TOROHIA

90 +4 - YELLOW CARD

#18. Axel WILLIAMS of Tahiti is booked

90 + 4 -YELLOW CARD

#21. Angelo TCHEN of Tahiti joins his team-mate in the referees notebook

90 + 6'- Referee brings an acrimonious fixture to conclusion

MATCH PHOTOS:

XIII SOUTH PACIFIC GAMES – SAMOA 2007

Men’s Group B

Match Day 5 – 1500 – 3 September 2007

Toleafoa J.S. Blatter Football Fields – Apia – Samoa

COOK ISLANDS: 1. Tony JAMIESON; 2. Paul Luiz VAN EIJK (3. Edward BROGAN 66'); 5. Miitamariki JOSEPH; 6. Steven WILLIS; 7. Adrian SHEPHERD; 8. Thomas LE MOUTON; 10. Eugiene TATUAVA; 12. Anonga TISAM (16. Daniel SHEPHERD 38'); 13. Teariki MATEARIKI (18. Nathan TISAM 79'); 15. Paavo MUSTONEN; 17. Augusty BARTILLARD.

Coach: Tim JERKS

Substitutes not used: 4. John PAREANGA; 9. Kunda TOM; 11. Edward DROLLET; 20. Remi WEARING; 21. Jimmy KATOA.

Injured: None.

Not available: None.

Cautions: 10. Eugene TATUAVA (52'); 1. Tony JAMIESON (66'). 

Red cards: 5. Miitaamariki JOSEPH (65'); 8. Thomas LE MOUTON (68').

Goal scorers:

TAHITI: 1. Jonathan TOROHIA; 3. Jean-Yves LI WA UT; 4. Freddy TAUIMARA; 7. Billy MATAITAI; 8. Jerome TETAVAHI; 10. Raimoana BENNETT; 12. Hiro POROIAE (2. Teraimaru MERVIN 79'); 13. Temarii TINORUA (11. Auguste WASHETINE 71'); 18. Axel WILLIAMS; 20. Teva ZAVERONI; 21. Angelo TCHEN. 

Coach: Gerard KAUTAI

Substitutes not used: 15. Farahia TEUIRA; 22. Daniel TAPETA; 23. Xavier SAMIN.

Injured: 6. Samuel GARCIA; 9. Raimana LEE FUNG KUEE; 19. Axel TEMATAUA.

Suspended: None

Not available:

Cautions: 12. Hiro POROIAE (46'); 7. Billy MATAITAI (55'); 18. Axel WILLIAMS (90'+4); 21. Angelo TCHEN (90'+4).

Red cards: 10. Raimoana BENNETT (52')

Goal scorers: 13. Temarii TINORUA (64').

Referee: Fiti AIMAASU (SAM)

Assistant Referee: Michael NUGUS (AUS)

Assistant Referee: Tevita MAKASINI (TON)

Fourth Official: Nelson SOGO (SOL)