Vanuatu have spoiled the Samoan party atmosphere at the XIII South Pacific Games with a 4-0 drubbing of host nation Samoa. The victory puts Vanuatu in second place behind Solomon Islands – 12-1
victors over American Samoa earlier today.

Coach Robert Calvo was delighted with the strong performance against a well-drilled Samoa side but left the host nation needing a miracle performance against Solomon Islands to have any hope of a
shot at the semi-finals.

Vanuatu hero Richard Iwai continued his rich vein of form carrying on from where he left off at the OFC Beach Soccer Championship – New Zealand 2007 when he scored the opener after 21 minutes.

The goal captured the overall mood of expectancy surrounding Vanuatu football with the national beach soccer team achieving their second runners-up placing in two years in OFC competition featuring
many of the stars of the national team.

Iwai is joined by Ken Masauvakalo, Fenedy Masauvakalo and Victor Maleb as “double” internationals for their country. Samoa, by contrast, were left disappointed after a fractious performance.
Pre-match optimism was replaced by a sense of anti-climax as Vanuatu’s pacy, direct, style of play continued to test a Samoan defence for whom good intention abounded but any semblance of pace was
largely a mystery.

image courtesy of Geoff Dickinson Photography

The impact of the defeat will be keenly felt when Samoa meet Airton Andrioli’s in-form Solomon Islands. Without doubt, Samoa will be required to cause a miracle of epic proportions assuming the
‘Bonito’ do as expected and account for Tonga. A victory for Vanuatu over Solomon Islands would still be required to give Chris Cahill (pictured above) and his team any hope of a semi-final
berth.

image courtesy of Geoff Dickinson photography

Tonga coach Kilifi Uele said his team were not simply in Samoa to make up numbers and felt they had a realistic chance of ruffling feathers.

“We have prepared as well as expected. I would hope that we can be competitive and I feel confident that we can do well against American Samoa and Samoa,” Uele said.

Uele coached the Tongan women’s team at the OFC FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifyiers – Papua New Guinea 2007 with his team finishing third.

2008 OFC Nations Cup/FIFA World Cup – South Africa 2010 Qualifiers

XIII SOUTH PACIFIC GAMES – SAMOA 2007  

Men

Group B

Match day 1 – 25 August 2007 – 15:00

Stade Joseph Sepp BLATTER – Apia – Samoa 

Result Match 1

VANUATU 4 (16. Richard IWAI 21’, 9. Jean Nako NAPRAPOL 43’, 7. Moise POIDA 66’, Seule SOROMON 90+2’)
SAMOA 0

VANUATU: 20. Chiku MANSALE; 3. Ken MASAUVAKALO; 6. Fedy VAVA; 7. Moise POIDA (89’, 8. Tom Philip TOMAKE); 9. Jean
Nako NAPRAPOL (75’, 10. Seule SOROMON); 12. Fenedy MASAUVAKALO; 14. Pita David MAKI; 16. Richard IWAI; 17. Geoffrey Lego GETE; 18. Jacques MAFIL NAWAN(70’, 2. Samson OBED); 21. Maki
HAITONG. 

Coach: Robert CALVO 

Subs not used (remplaçants n’ayant pas joué): 1. David CHILIA; 4. Rexley TARIVUTI; 5. Andrew CHICHIRUA; 11. Etienne MERMER; 13. Francois SAKAMA;
15. Victor MALEB; 19. Derek MALAS.  

Cautions (Cartons jaunes): 14. Pita David MAKI (VAN) 

Red Cards (cartons rouges): None. 

SAMOA: 1. Pasi SCHWALGER; 3. Damien FONOTI; 4. Chris CAHILL; 6. Fauivi UGAPO; 10. Desmond FAAIUASO; 11. Junior
MICHAEL (77’, 8. Joseph HOEFLICH); 12. Filipo BURETA; 13. Lionel TAYLOR; 14. Bevan KAPISI (58’, 7. Fereti GOSCHE ); 16. Penitito TUMUA; 18.
Sakaria FUIMAONO.  

Coach: Falevi UMUTAUA 

Subs not used (remplaçants n’ayant pas joué): 2. Voa SAUAGA; 5. Jererell SALE; 9. Max Tom HOEFLICH; 15. Edwin TYRELL; 17. Horst PETANA; 19. Sapati
UMUTAUA; 20. Filipo ULI; 21. Keith Tasi STANFIELD.  

Cautions (Cartons jaunes): 4. Chris CAHILL (SAM), 11. Junior MICHAEL (SAM), 8. Joseph HOEFLICH (SAM) 

Red Cards (cartons rouges): None.  

Referee: Jacque AVERII (TAH)

Assistant Referee: Brent BEST (NZL)

Assistant Referee: Rohitesh DAYAL (FIJ)

Fourth Official: Job Ponis MINAN (PNG)