Two stunning strikes and a penalty were enough to guide Fiji past and energetic Vanuatu at Toleafoa JS Blatter Football Field tonight.

The first of those goals scored by Pita Baleitoga after 44 minutes defied all belief as the stocky midfielder thundered home a 40 yard screamer that left Vanuatu goalkeeper Chikau Mansale without a
hope.

The importance of the timing and quality of the goal cannot be understated after Fiji had to withstand a barrage of continual attacks from a Vanuatu team seemingly keen to probe, locate and exploit
any signs of lethargy and complacency in a Fiji team for whom winning has become second nature.

Suele Soromon was the chief predator for Vanuatu and he was a constant thorn in the side of Peni Finau with his pace and instinct for a half chance motivation to chase down lost causes, something
the Fiji defence hasn’t had to contend with on too many occasions at this tournament to date.

Baleitoga’s strike emphasised the ever so fine gap that seperates Fiji from the other teams and it had all the effect of a punch to the ribs of a Vanuatu side that had battled gamely.

Vanuatu, to their credit, were never out of the match and it wasn’t until Pita Rabo was bundled over in the penalty area on 66 minutes that the chance of a gold medal match started to slip from
their grasp.

Osea Vakatalesau buried the penalty with consumate ease to give Fiji a 2-0 lead and the match was over as a contest only 3 minutes later when substitute Roy Krishna blistered past the Vanuatu
defence and rifled a precise and powerful left foot volley on the angle past advancing keeper Mansale.

The ball just about took the net out and with it any lingering hopes Vanuatu had of reaching the final.

However, as Fiji and Vanuatu part ways, each to their next challenge, there is still plenty to play for for Robert Calvo’s team as a bronze medal match and the last qualifying berth for the Stage
Two OFC/FIFA World Cup qualifying is up for grabs.

Fiji progress to the final where they will play New Caledonia in a repeat of their first round encounter in Group A which ended 1-1.

Both teams have secured qualification for Stage Two OFC/FIFA World Cup qualifying against New Zealand already and only the colour of their South Pacific Games medals is left to be determined,
although where each team finishes in Apia will play a part in the order of fixtures for next month.

 

LIVE UPDATES: 

OFC Media regrets to report the temporary loss of internet access, with the following key events occurring up until the 70th minute:

34′ – Vanuatu 17. Geoffrey Lego GETE receives a yellow card for a careless challenge on Osea Vaketalesau

44′ – GOAL!

8. Pita BALEITOGA fires a rocket from 40 yards, which deflects off Fedy Vava and evades Chikau Mansale to his left

— 2 minutes added time —

 

HALF TIME: FIJ 1 VAN 0

 

48′ – 2. Samson OBED is booked for a tough foul on Malakai Tiwa

54′ – Vanuatu captain 7. Moise POIDA makes way for 13. Francois SAKAMA

62′ – goalscorer 10. Pita BALEITOGA is replaced by 19. Roy KRISHNA

66′ – PENALTY!

Pita Rabo is brought down heavily in the box, with the referee pointing to the spot

66′ – GOAL!

10. Osea Vakatalesau slots it low to a dancing Mansale’s right

69′ – GOAL!

19. Roy Krishna beats the Vanuatu defence for pace, and thunders home a left foot finish from 15 yards on the angle

 

 

70′ – Fiji replace 13. Taniela WAQA with 11. Thomas VULIVULI

75′ – 18. Jacques MAFIL NAWAN is replaced by 19. Derek MALAS as Malakai Tiwa lies injured in his own 18 yard box 

77′ – 2. Alvin ANESH takes the field for the injured 16. Malakai TIWA

79′ – 11. Etienne MERMER enters the game for 10. Seule SOROMON 

81′ – 13. Francois SAKAMA receives a yellow card for a foul on Salesh Kumar

83′ – Mansale fumbles into the path of Vaketalesau, who hits his attempted finish straight at the relieved Vanuatu ‘keeper

84′ – the fixture could be in a very different situation at this time, had have Vanuatu taken their early opportunities in the first half 

90′ – Salesh Kumar has space to turn and shoot from 25 yards, but strikes narrowly over

— 4 minutes added time —

90’+1 – Salesh Kumar is clean through, this time pulling the trigger from the top corner of the 18 yard box, but narrowly curling his shot clear of the top left corner

90’+2 – 8. Tom Philip TOMAKE is the latest to be booked

 

FULL TIME: FIJ 3 VAN 0

 

MATCH PHOTOS: 

image courtesy of Geoff Dickinson Photography

image courtesy of Geoff Dickinson Photography 

image courtesy of Geoff Dickinson Photography

XIII SOUTH PACIFIC GAMES – SAMOA 2007

Men’s Semi-Final

Match Day 6 – 1800 – 5 September 2007

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

FIJI: 1. Simione TAMANISAU [gk]; 4. Samuela VULA; 5. Ronil KUMAR; 8. Pita BALEITOGA (19. Roy KRISHNA 62′); 10. Osea VAKATALESAU; 12. Peni FINAU [c]; 13. Taniela
WAQA (11. Thomas VULIVULI 70′); 15. Salesh KUMAR; 16. Malakai TIWA (2. Alvin AVINESH 77′); 17. Malakai KAINIHEWE; 18. Pita RABO.

Coach: Juan Carlos BUZZETTI


Substitutes not used: 3. Waisake SABUTU; 6. Lorima DAU; 7. Ratu Inosi VATUCICILA; 9. Josaia BUKALIDI; 14. Viliame TOMA; 20. Benamino MATEINAQARA [gk].

Injured:  

Suspended:

Not available:  

 

Cautions:

Red cards:

Goal scorers: 8. Pita BALEITOGA (44′); 10. Osea VAKATALESAU (66′); 19. Roy KRISHNA (69′).

 

 

VANUATU: 2. Samson OBED; 3. Ken MASAUVAKALO; 6. Fedy VAVA; 7. Moise POIDA [c] (13. Francois SAKAMA 54′); 8. Tom Philip TOMAKE; 9. Jean Nako NAPRAPOL; 10. Seule
SOROMON (11. Etienne MERMER 79′); 12. Fenedy MASAUVAKALO; 17. Geoffrey Lego GETE; 18. Jacques MAFIL NAWAN (19. Derek MALAS 75′); 20. Chikau MANSALE [gk].

Coach: Robert CALVO

Substitutes not used: 1. David CHILIA [gk]; 4. Rexley TARIVUTI; 5. Andrew CHICHIRUA; 14. Pita David MAKI; 15. Victor MALEB; 16. Richard IWAI; 21. Maki
HAITONG.

Injured:

Suspended:

Not available: 

Cautions: 17. Geoffrey Lego GETE (34′); 2. Samson OBED (48′); 13. Francois SAKAMA (81′); 8. Tom Philip TOMAKE (90’+2).

Red cards:

Goal scorers:   

 

 

 

Referee: Michael HESTER (NZL)

Assistant Referee: Brent BEST (NZL)

Assistant Referee: Michael NUGUS (AUS)

Fourth Official: Neil FOX (NZL)

Fifth Official: Teariki GOODWIN (COK)