TONGA WOMEN CAUSE SEMI-FINAL UPSET

image courtesy of Geoff Dickinson Photography

Tonga women's team have turned the XIII South Pacific Games on its head after an upset 1-0 win over Fiji in the semi-final of the women's football tournament at Toleafoa JS Blatter Football Field in Apia, Samoa this afternoon.

Going into the match, and for the majority of the first half everything seemed to be going to script as Fiji dominated the game through the special talents of Asena Reba Ratu and her partner in crime, Adiela Kurikaba. What the Fijian did not count on however, was that the miserly Tongan defence has not conceded a goal in almost 8 hours of football ath these South Pacific Games – thanks largely to the exploits of recently crowned captain and inspirational goalkeeper Mele Likiliki.

Ironically, Likiliki looked to have blown Tonga’s chances midway through the first half when a push on Heilala Lotoaniu as she was bearing down on Fijian defender turned goalkeeper Mereoni Yabakidrau resulted in a penalty to Tonga.

After some delay to tend to the shaken Lotoaniu, it was Likiliki – not dominant forward Penateti Feke – who stepped up to the mark. Likiliki seemed to let the occasion get to her, dragging her low strike well left of the goal.

“I was very, very unhappy after the miss” said Likiliki. “From then on I felt like I owed it to my team to be sure that Fiji did not score”. It was a commitment she came good on, which led to Tonga’s second penalty – again for a foul on Lotoaniu – being coolly slotted by Feke, and the final minutes of the match dedicated to Tonga withstanding everything Fiji had left.

Fiji’s plight was not helped when Ratu was sensationally withdrawn from the game with half an hour to play, and the scores still locked at zero a piece. The final minutes saw a barrage of yellow cards to Fiji, and Tonga using the stoppages to set themselves in defence and clear the ball as far away as possible.

Tongan coach Kilifi Uele was “proud of his team to come through such a tough game, and look forward to focusing on the final”. The final shapes to be an electric encounter, with the skills and pace of Papua New Guinea pitted against the strength and solidity of Tonga in a clash that will determine who wins the honour of competing against New Zealand for a spot at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Fiji on the other hand now only have pride – and the bronze medal – to play for  against Tahiti – who were well beaten by Papua New Guinea under lights but will look forward to welcoming their suspended star defender Patricia Yakeula back from suspension for the match on Friday.

XIII SOUTH PACIFIC GAMES – SAMOA 2007

Match Day 7

Women’s Final

2030hrs (GMT-13)       Papua New Guinea v Tonga

Bronze Medal Match

1230hrs (GMT-13)       Tahiti v Fiji  

*OFC Media would like to apologise for the loss of 'live update' footage for this match - we regret any inconvenience this may have caused

MATCH PHOTOS:

XIII SOUTH PACIFIC GAMES – SAMOA 2007

Women’s Semi-Final

Match Day 6 – 1230 – 5 September 2007

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

FIJI: 2. Mereoni YABAKIDRAU [gk]; 4. Alisi MEREDANI; 6. Adiela KURIKABA; 7. Vulolo Anaisi TORA; 10. Asena Reba RATU [c] (5. Sera TALANAVULA 66’); 11. Kinisimere VANUA; 12. Lynnette PEARCE; 13. Unaisi VATULILI; 15. Jijilia DUGUCANAVANUA; 17. Unaisi MOCE; 19. Kinisimere RAVAI.

Coach: Farouk JANEMAN

Substitutes not used: 1. Lice WAQAILITI [gk]; 3. Vika SADRAU; 8. Radilaite MARAMA; 9. Laisana MATAELE; 14. Mereani GALO; 16. Margaret MORRIS; 18. Naomi REGU; 20. Ana Maria KARIKARI [gk].

Injured:  

Suspended:

Not available:  

Cautions: 19. Kinisimere RAVAI (82’); 13. Unaisi VATULILI (90’+1); 6. Adiela KURIKABA (90’+3).

Red cards:

Goal scorers:  

TONGA: 1. Mele LIKILIKI [gk][c]; 3. Kulia FILO; 4. Pesalini LAVE; 5. Sala VEAMATAHAU; 6. Olive MATEIALONA (16. Karen UTAATU 65’); 7. Salome VAENUKU; 9. Atelaite MANU; 10. Heilala LOTOANIU (13. Makaleta FOLAUMOETAO 83’); 11. Matelita MISINALE; 12. Penateti FEKE; 15. Salote LAUTAHA (8. Neomai TUPOU 46’).

Coach: Kilifi UELE

Substitutes not used: 2. Mele NIUKAPU; 17. Lose PELE; 19. Uluaki KAUFUSI; 20. Elenoa LAUHINGOA [gk].

Injured:

Suspended: 18. Maumea MAFI.

Not available: 

Cautions: 4. Pesalini LAVE (27’).

Red cards:

Goal scorers: 12. Penateti FEKE (pen. 27’).   

Referee: Fiti AIMAASU (SAM)

Assistant Referee: Alison FLYNN (AUS)

Assistant Referee: Mahit CHILIA (VAN)

Fourth Official: Nelson SOGO (SOL)

Fifth Official: Jackson NAMO (SOL)