Group A top finishers Tahiti are ineligible for this semi-final which meant both Fiji and Vanuatu were guaranteed a spot in the Olympic semi-finals, the question however was always who they would face.
Vanuatu set a new XV Pacific Games record with their 46-0 win over Federated States of Micronesia and while they had the superior goal average in the end it didn’t count for much as Fiji played out a 0-0 draw with Tahiti to claim second place in the group standings meaning Vanuatu have booked a semi-final showdown with New Zealand.
The Kiwis eased through to the semi-finals without conceding a single goal. Their toughest test has proven to be the hosts Papua New Guinea who they beat just 1-0, and who will be joining them in the semi-finals after posting a 2-1 victory over Solomon Islands.
With the conditions in Port Moresby hot and humid, New Zealand’s semi-final qualification with a game in hand meant they were able to rotate their squad for their final group game – a decision which had little impact on the result and proves the depth of Anthony Hudson’s squad. New Zealand U-17 international Logan Rogerson got his first start of the competition and was rewarded with a hat-trick as his side romped their way to a 5-0 victory over New Caledonia.
Vanuatu will be a different kind of challenge. The side is full of potential and the goal scoring capacity is there in the likes of Jean Kaltack, Bong Kalo and Dalong Damalip among others. Though they notched up a 46-0 record against Federated States of Micronesia it will mean little to the squad other than providing a confidence boost, as they line up to take on the Kiwis.
The side couldn’t hold their lead against the Tahitians, allowing them not only to equalise but to take a 2-1 victory. The also struggled to get past Fiji despite looking the better side throughout most of their match. Three years ago the two sides met at the exact same point in the competition with New Zealand going on to the final after beating the Ni-Vanuatu 3-2 at Owen Delany Park.
Team manager Laurence Sisi says the young side is hoping to overturn the results of that day and snatch the victory this time around.
“We all know that New Zealand is always the favourites and the battle will be hard but our boys are ready to play against them on Friday,” he says.
“The result between Federated States of Micronesia is behind us now and our main focus in Friday’s match.”
Though they finished third in their group, the ineligibility of New Caledonia for the Olympic Qualifiers and New Zealand for the Pacific Games means Papua New Guinea have scraped through to both semi-finals.
In order to make it to the Olympic qualifying final they will have to get past a determined Fiji first, a side who is showing no signs of slowing down the closer they get to the prize.
The Fijian team is littered with young talent, much of it direct from competing with the world’s best at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. With Carlos Buzzetti at the helm the side has opted for some interesting formations, with a particular focus going on flooding the midfield with bodies.
They will be a tough opponent for Ricki Herbert and his charges who have been playing some impressive football in this competition so far. They are the side which has come closest to upsetting the New Zealanders with their style of play a spectacle to watch, while also being effective.
They have been unlucky in their finishing with Tommy Semmy and Emmanuel Airem taking their time to settle into this competition. They found their goal scoring prowess in their do-or-die match against Solomon Islands but will need to improve further if they are to really challenge for that final spot.
Herbert says going through to the semi-finals has taken this side into the history books and he’s hopeful this isn’t the final stop on the journey.
“It a lot of pressure playing at home and I think they need to understand the pressure if they’re to be a successful footballing country. There’s a bit of nerves in this team, they’re not always as composed as you’d like them to be but they’re full of heart and that’s important as well,” Herbert says.
“I think Solomons are the only team so far who have really knocked the ball around and we expect Fiji to go direct. But then Fiji may play a different way against us, and systems are always important to be challenged against.”
Extra Information
Olympic Semi-Final 1
Fiji vs. Papua New Guinea
Bisini Field 3
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Friday 10 July 2015
Kick-off: 11am
FIJvPNG
Referee: Norbert HAUATA (TAH)
Assistant Referee 1: Phillipe REVEL (TAH)
Assistant Referee 2: Johnny Erick NIABO (SOL)
Fourth Official: Ichikawa POLOVILI (TGA)
Fiji: 1. Senirusi BOKINI (GK), 2. Ravinesh KUMAR DASS, 3. Praneel NAIDU, 4. Kolinio SIVOKI, 5. Jale DREOLA, 6. Saula WAQA, 7. Manasa NAWAKULA, 8. Atonio TUIVUNA, 9. Iosefo VEREVOU, 10. Rusiate MATAREREGA, 11. Christopher WASASALA, 12. Tevita WARANAIVALU, 13. Filipe BARAVILALA, 14. Garish PRASAD, 15.Napolioni QASEVAKATINI, 16. Sakaraia NAISUA, 17. Nickel CHAND, 18. Viliame BAWAI, 19. Ratu NAKALEVU, 20. Tevita KOROI (GK)
Coach: Carlos BUZZETTI (AUS)
Papua New Guinea: 1. Ismael POLE (GK), 2. Abel REDENUT, 3. Otto KUSUNAN, 4. Joshua TALAU, 5. John RAY, 6. Emmanuel AIREM, 7. Freddy STEVEN, 8. Sammy RUFUS, 9. Patrick AISA, 10. Rodney MOBIHA, 11. Emmanuel YAWI, 12. Darren STEVEN, 13. Tommy SEMMY, 14. Alwin KOMOLONG, 15. Vincent WORIO, 16. Felix KOMOLONG, 17. Jacob SABUA, 18. Basil JOFARI, 19. Pettyshen ELIJAH, 20. Charles LEPANI (GK), 21. Nathan JAMES, 22. Gimale ESSACU, 23. Papalau AWELE
Coach: Ricki HERBERT (NZL)
Olympic Semi-Final 2
New Zealand v Vanuatu
Bisini Field 1
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Friday 10 July 2015
Kick-off: 2.30pm
TAHvVAN
Referee: Ravitesh BEHARI (FIJ)
Assistant Referee 1: Paul AHUPU (TAH)
Assistant Referee 2: Bertrand BRIAL (NCL)
Fourth Official: Gerald OIAKA (SOL)
New Zealand: 1. Oliver SAIL (GK), 2. Kip COLVEY, 3. Deklan WYNNE, 4. Sam BROTHERTON, 5. Alec SOLOMONS, 6. Bill TUILOMA, 7. Joel STEVENS, 8. Moses DYER, 9. Alex RUFER, 10. Clayton LEWIS, 11. Luka PRELEVIC, 12. Nikola TZANEV (GK), 13. Liam HIGGINS, 14. Luke ADAMS, 15. Storm ROUX, 16. Louis FENTON, 17. Andrew BLAKE, 18. Sam BURFOOT, 19. Monty PATTERSON, 20. Harshae RANIGA, 21. Max CROCOMBE (GK), 22. Te Atawhai HUDSON-WIHONGI, 23. Logan ROGERSON
Coach: Anthony HUDSON (ENG)
Vanuatu: 1. Seloni IARUEL (GK), 2. Channel OBED, 3. Remy KALSRAP, 4. Brian KALTACK, 5. Junia VAVA, 6. Raoul COULON, 7. Barry MANSALE, 8. Bill NICHOLLS, 9. Chris ANDREWS, 10. Bong KALO, 11. Jean KALTACK, 12. Zicka MANUHI, 13. Dalong DAMALIP, 14. Michel COULON, 15. Nilua NIKIAU, 16. Jacky RUBEN, 17. Nemany ROQUARA, 18. Abraham ROQARA, 19. Tony KALTACK, 20. Anthony TAIWIA (GK), 22. Jais MALSARANI, 23. Kaloran FIRIAM
Coach: Richard IWAI (VAN)