Both earned their final berths by sticking three goals past their opponents this afternoon but the wins came in contrasting fashion, Fiji rarely being troubled by Papua New Guinea during their 3-0 success but New Zealand having to endure a nervy closing period before finally triumphing 3-2 over Vanuatu.
The Oly Whites began brightly and had raced into a three-goal lead by the 27th minute but Vanuatu gave themselves a glimmer of hope by making it 3-2 in injury time and giving New Zealand coach Neil Emblen an uncomfortable final few minutes.
“We thought the game was over at 3-0 and just wanted to see it out but they came on strong in the second half and played really well,” Emblen admitted.
“They probably played a bit more football through the thirds and played how we want to play in a way. We wanted to get in their faces early on, take the game to them and show that we’re the home nation. We did that well but there are obviously some concerning signs with that second-half performance.”
The New Zealand players followed their boss’s instructions to the letter in the opening stages, going ahead in just the fifth minute when Louis Fenton got on the end of a looping Alex Feneridis cross and volleyed past 16-year-old goalkeeper Seiloni Iaruel. As part of New Zealand’s plan to impose themselves physically on Vanuatu, Emblen had paired big targetmen Greg Draper and Ethan Galbraith together up front and it appeared to pay off as the Vanuatu defence struggled to contain the Oly Whites in the opening half an hour.
Defender James Musa made it two in the eighth minute, showing great technique to head home a Feneridis corner, before Feneridis earned a hat-trick of assists by flicking on a Jason Hicks free kick for Draper to dink over Iaruel in the 27th minute.
It appeared to be game over at that stage and for the most part Vanuatu failed to trouble the New Zealand defence, who were yet to concede a goal in Taupo, but the play began to turn in the 74th minute when Vanuatu’s supersub Jean Kaltack again rose from the bench to make an impact.
Kaltack latched onto a Willie-Ola Jimmy pass down the left and drew Jake Gleeson before dispatching the ball past the Oly Whites goalkeeper. A comeback still appeared unlikely but became more of a possibility with seconds remaining as Kensi Tangis prodded home a Ivong Wilson free kick to set up a tense finish.
Vanuatu tried to get the ball forward as the clocked ticked down but couldn’t force a fairytale ending and left coach Richard Iwai to rue what might have been.
“Football is a 90-minute game and I’m very happy with the way the boys fought right until the end,” Iwai said. “We now wish New Zealand good luck in the final.”
The day’s earlier semi-final was less dramatic but Fiji were just as pleased to win as their fellow finalists. They had little trouble in sweeping aside a strangely subdued Papua New Guinea and were in control of the outcome from the 25th minute when captain Esava Naqeleca side-footed home a spot kick. New Caledonia referee Bertrand Billon awarded the penalty after goalkeeper Ronald Warisan had clattered into Misaele Draunibaka and Billon was in the thick of the action again on the hour mark, pointing to the spot once more when Roland Bala clipped Jone Salauneune in the box.
Naqeleca assumed responsibility and got the better of Warisan again, smashing the ball low into the opposite corner to his previous effort. The strike took his goal tally to six, just one behind golden boot leader Ian Paia, who will not be able to add to his haul as Solomon Islands did not progress past the group stages.
Zibraaz Sahib padded the scoreline out in the 71st minute, climbing high at the back post to head home Salauneune’s pinpoint cross.
“I am delighted with the performance because the boys did everything we asked of them and we are now in the final,” said Fiji coach Imdad Ali, who also reserved special praise for inspirational skipper Naqeleca. “He is a very hard-working boy and has been representing the country since he was 17. He plays with a lot of confidence and is a key player for us.”
Papua New Guinea counterpart Frank Farina had no complaints about his charges’ efforts but felt the penalties put them out of contention.
“The two penalties made a big difference and the first one killed us really,” he said. “There’s always turning points in games and that was one of them because I thought we were on top at the time. The penalty is awarded and then you’re chasing the game because the other side gets confidence. When you have to chase the game like that you tend to open yourself up a bit.”
Farina will now try to earn bronze for Papua New Guinea in the 3rd/4th play-off on Sunday before Fiji and New Zealand meet in the winner-takes-all final.
Fiji vs. Papua New Guinea Match Summary: Download Here
New Zealand vs. Vanuatu Match Summary: Download Here
Competition Summary: Download Here
Upcoming Matches
Papua New Guinea vs. Vanuatu
3rd/4th Play-off
1:00pm, Sunday 25 March
Owen Delany Park
Taupo, New Zealand
Fiji vs. New Zealand
Final
4:00pm, Sunday 25 March
Owen Delany Park
Taupo, New Zealand