Tahiti – Cook Islands Match Summary Download PDF
See below for all the play-by-play action.
The starting line-ups:
Tahiti: 1. Anthony MANCA (GK), 2. Rainui AROITA (c), 3. Tehotu DOOM, 5. Mihimana LEMAIRE, 6. Gianna MANCA, 9. Heremana TEIKITEEPUPUNI, 12. Ranihei TEUMERE, 13. Ahonui TAHI, 14. Manuarii HAUATA, 17. Jason FAURA, 18. Tevaimoana MESLIEN
Cook Islands: 1. Rangi PIRI, 2. Michael MURARE, 3. Ant SAMUEL (c), 5. Travel KAUKURA, 6. Tamaiva SMITH, 7. Mii PUTAI, 9. Marcelo RAIROA, 10. Twin TIRO, 11. Tyrell BARRINGER-TAHIRI, 12. Irangi MAURI, 13. Jamian IROA
The match kicks off
1′ Tahiti have the early ball and push forward
2′ Ahonui Tahi has the ball in the net for Tahiti when he cuts in from the left and shoots past Cook Islands goalkeeper Rangi Piri but the goal is ruled out for offside
5′ Tahiti are enjoying most of the possession in these early stages but Cook Islands are holding their own
8′ Heremana Teikiteepupuni has a chance for Tahiti when he runs onto a ball on the left of the box and rolls off his marker but his shot goes into the side netting
11′ Most of the play is being conducted in the Cook Islands half but the underdogs are managing to keep out Tahiti without too much trouble
14′ Cook Islands captain Ant Samuela smashes a long free kick into the Tahiti box but goalkeeper Anthony Manca makes a comfortable catch
17′ Tevaimoana Meslien starts a break for Tahiti with a strong run through the midfield but Cook Islands defend well and stamp out the attack
19′ Teikiteepupuni tries his luck with an effort from the edge of the box for Tahiti but drags his low strike wide
22′ Cook Islands get to exert some pressure of their own with a good spell of possession results in corner
23′ Tamaiva Smith’s corner is punched away by Manca and Tahiti break forward but the ball goes out for a throw in near halfway
25′ Mii Putai puts Twin Tiro away down the left wing for Cook Islands but he over-runs the ball and it goes out for a goal kick
28′ Gianni Manca whips in a dangerous cross from the right for Tahiti but Piri does well to rise high and claim it
30′ Cook Islands will be delighted with the opening half hour as confidence must have been low after suffering a heavy loss to New Caledonia in their last match
31′ Irangi Mauri knocks a good pass to Marcelo Rairoa on the right hand side of the Tahitian box but he chips his shot too far
33′ Meslien heads a bouncing ball into the arms of Cook Islands goalkeeper Piri but the offside flag is raised
35′ Meslien turns provider moments later when he lays the ball off to Gianni Manca on the edge of the box but the shot is scuffed and bobbles wide
37′ Tahiti nearly open the scoring when Meslien runs onto a through ball but Piri comes out to bravely challenge at his feet and the ball ricochets away
40′ Nice interchange play between Tahiti’s Teikiteepupuni and Tahi results in a corner but Tehotu Doom’s kick is defended successfully
44′ Tahiti have been camped in the Cook Islands half for the last few minutes but are not creating any chances
The first half comes to an end
The second half kicks off
46′ SUBSTITUTIONS: Tevaimoana Meslien is replaced by Tihoni Yohann and Ranihei Teumere is replaced by Tapotofarerani Ramiss for Tahiti at half-time
47′ Tahiti go stright on the attack from the restart and Piri has to scramble away a dangerous cross
50′ Tahiti have started the secpnd period in an attacking frame of mind and Cook Islands are yet to make it out of their half
54′ Cook Islands finally get down the other end and have a free kick in a promising position but Tamaiva Smith can’t get enough power in his bended effort and goalkeeper Manca gathers it easily on the bounce
56′ Teikiteepupuni is put in on the left hand side of the box for Tahiti but he slices his cross straight into the arms of Piri
59′ GOAL!!! Tahiti 1, Cook Islands 0: Tahiti finally break the resistance of Cook Islands when a Gianna Manca cross from the right eludes Piri and finds its way to Tahi, who tucks it into an empty net
64′ Tahiti have been more dominant in this half and Cook Islands now have a steep hill to climb to get themselves back into the game
65′ SUBSTITUTION: Irangi Mauri is replaced by Mike Mouauri for Cook Islands
69′ Piri has to work hard to tip a high Ramssi cross over the bar for a corner
70′ The corner is taken by Tehotu Doom and results in a strike on the edge of the box for Manuarii Hauata but the shot is blocked on the line
75′ SUBSTITUTION: Gianni Manca is replaced by Tauhiti Keck for Tahiti
76′ Keck tries to make an immediate impact when he cuts in from the right and shoots with his left from outside the box but the ball goes straight to Piri
76′ YELLOW CARDS: Tahiti’s Teikiteepupuni and Cook Islands’ Michael Murare are both cautioned
79′ Cook Islands are still right in this game but we haven’t seen a lot of them as an attacking force in this half
80′ Murare loses possession on halfway and allows Keck to charge off down the left but Cook Islands captain Ant Samuela comes across to block Keck’s shot
81′ Tihoni Yohann takes the resulting corner for Tahiti and it results in a volley at goal for Hauata but it is too close to Piri and he clutches it safely
85′ Tahiti nearly score again when Piri punches a Ramssi cross from the right but it only falls as far as Yohann, whose shot is blocked and goes out for a corner
86′ Teikiteepupuni has a strike at goal from the edge of the box following the corner but Piri makes a good save
88′ Cook Islands have their first shot on target of the half through Twin Tiro but it is an ambitious effort from long range and Anthony Manca makes a straightforward save
89′ Substitute Keck almost gets on the scoresheet for Tahiti but his shot from an acute angle at the far post goes over the bar
90′ Keck has another good chance after smart build-up play by Tahi and Yohann but he doesn’t get a good connection on his shot and it rolls striaght to Piri
90′ Two minutes of injury time will be played
90′ + 1′ Teikiteepupuni nearly makes it two for Tahiti but Piri saves at his near post
90′ + 2′ SUBSTITUTION: Marcelo Rairoa is replaced by Arama Bishop for Cook Islands
The final whistle is blown