Tonga and Tahiti were the winners on Women’s Match Day 3 at the XIII South Pacific Games – Samoa 2007 in a day that saw
one upset result and a contender for goal of the tournament.
In Group A, Fiji accounted for a spirited American Samoa 3-0 thanks to two second half goals from Unaisi Moce and a an opener from Adiela Kurikaba. Fiji was made to work hard for their
victory as American Samoa adopted a highly defensive approach based around the courage and skill of goalkeeper Filiga Kerisiani. Fiji’s win sent Farouk Janeman’s team into second spot in the
group on goal difference from high-flying Papua New Guinea.
Elsewhere in Group A, Cook Islands striker Teremoana Hewett looked to have put her team’s campaign back on track after she fired home a brilliant right foot volley from an acute angle after
42 minutes against Solomon Islands.
With both teams semi-final hopes depending upon victory Hewett had looked to have handed her country the impetus until a defensive error reminiscent of Cook Islands match against American
Samoa handed Solomon Islands a lifeline.
A seemingly harmless pass into Cook Islands defence took the faintest of touches off Solomon Islands Layda Samani on 50 minutes leaving goalkeeper Heimata Heather stranded helpless as the
ball trundled into the empty net to give a 1-1 score line.
In Group B, Tonga got off to a solid start when Heilala Lotoaniu latched onto a long ball and left the New Caledonia defence flatfooted before slotting into an empty net. New Caledonia were
not without their chances as Marylise Lolo and Lola Tara went close. The result was put beyond doubt when Penateti Feke scored with just 3 minutes remaining to hand Tonga a 2-0 win.
Tahiti caused the biggest shock of the tournament when they dismantled host nation Samoa 4-0 in an exciting match before another big evening crowd. Tahiti were too slick for the host nation
in a minor upset at JS Blatter Playing Field in Apia, Samoa, tonight as the debutants from French-Polynesia raced into the lead for a semi-finals berth.
Samoa had all the pre-match pundits picking a comfortable home victory but Tahiti turned in a performance replete with passion, vigour, energy and no little amount of skill. Gloria HAUATA
(31’), Tania BONNEFIN (47’) and Maima MARMOUYET (88’) were in red hot form in front of goal while Samoa didn’t help their own cause when they scored an own goal after 34 minutes.
The next fixtures in the XIII South Pacific Games – Samoa 2007 Women’s Football Tournament take place on Saturday 1st September with a four fixtures.
SATURDAY 1st SEPTEMBER 2007
(GMT-13)
Kick-off
Match
Group
1000hrs Solomon Islands v American Samoa A
1000hrs Tahiti v
Tonga B
1500hrs Papua New Guinea v
Fiji A
2030hrs New Caledonia v
Samoa B
PHOTOS from MATCH DAY 3 ACTION:
MORE DETAILS OF XIII SOUTH PACIFIC GAMES CAN BE READ AT: