With Samoa the only team remaining with a realistic chance of catching New Zealand at the top of the table, all eyes will be on their clash with Vanuatu which opens the action on Thursday.
A victory will see Samoa enter their Match Day 5 clash with New Zealand still in the race for the title, but requiring a victory against the formidable defending champions.
Against New Caledonia last up Leti Tamasese’s side were prolific in patches, but the same concentration lapses which cost them victory against Tonga in the dying stages caused them to concede twice and allow their opponents back into the game.
Keeping the ball in the middle of the park will have been an area of focus for Samoa over the past couple of days, and in Vanuatu they face a side who love to disrupt possession with energetic defending.
In both their games so far Vanuatu’s physicality has been a feature, while they have also tended to dominate aerial contests.
The biggest hurdle for Joel Rarua’s side will be overcoming the mental scars of having 18 unanswered goals put on them by New Zealand.
It will be a similar story for New Caledonia when they take on host nation Tonga, searching for their first win of the tournament.
After his side fell 6-2 to Samoa on Match Day 3 New Caledonia coach Kamali Fitialeata vented his frustration at the way the tournament had unfolded for them so far, and he will be desperate to salvage something from their final game before sitting out the last day with a bye.
An inability to mark up on opposing players has hurt New Caledonia in every game so far, and against Samoa they left keeper Noemie Trojanie facing one-on-one shots on a number of occasions.
It will have been five days since Tonga last took the field by the time the match kicks off, due to their bye on Match Day 3 and the additional rest day this week, and it remains to be seen what effect that will have on how they play.
Against Samoa the side raced out to a 2-0 lead and should have been able to close the game out for their first victory, but did well to rescue a point in the end after trailing 3-2 at the end of regulation time.
Keeping their mind on the task at hand for the full 90 minutes and sticking to the plan set by coach Penateti Feke are the major areas Tonga need to improve on if they want to take three points from this match.
Both games on Match Day 4 will see nations lining up against each other for the first time at an OFC U-2 Women’s Championship. New Zealand will sit it out with a bye.
Extra information:
Samoa v Vanuatu
Loto-Tonga Soka Centre
Thursday 8 October, 2015
Kick-off: 13h
SAMvVAN
Match Officials
Referee: Amos ANIO (PNG)
Assistant Referee 1: Wanting YAGUM (PNG)
Assistant Referee 2:Ujwaal MUDLIAR (FIJ)
Fourth Official: George TIME (SOL)
Samoa
The players: Playing in an advanced role against New Caledonia, midfielder Shalom Fiso was Samoa’s best in attack scoring three goals and constantly threatening with runs in behind the defensive line. Madeleen Ah Ki is another to watch out for, combining a high work rate with some nice touches in the final third.
The vital statistics: Samoa join New Zealand as the only teams who have scored more goals than they have conceded in the competition ahead of Match Day 4, having scored nine and let through five.
Coach quote: “I think we will do well against our next opponent Vanuatu. I know it’s going to be a difficult game but I believe in my girls and I know that they are going to do better than what they did against New Caledonia.”
Squad list: 1. Katarina AH SUI (GK), 2. Renee ATONIO, 3. Clementina IASIA, 4. Moreva MAMEA, 5. Lagmaina AKARI, 6. Hope SCHUSTER, 7. Shalom FISO, 8 Atonina TANUVASA, 9. Siatuvai IONATANA, 10. Vaaipu MOATAA, Marcella NIELSEN, 12. Liz AH-LAM, 13. Matalena DANIELLS, 14. Epi TAFILI, 15. Matalena FAASAVALU, 16. Melesete AIA, 17. Rosie SCHUSTER, 18. Mariecamilla AH KI, 19. Madeleen AH KI, 20. Kolotita SABINE (GK)
Coach: Leti TAMASESE (SAM)
Vanuatu
The players: In a game where her team were almost always on the back foot defender Daina Kalopong stood out with some great tackling, while she was also able to limit the aerial threat from New Zealand with some well-timed headers out of danger. Keeper Melody Tate also showed courage to play through injury.
The vital statistics: Vanuatu have only conceded against New Zealand at the 2015 OFC U-20 Women’s Championship, managing to keep a clean sheet against their other opponents so far.
Coach Quote: “We will try to work more on how we keep possession in the game and how we attack. We understand the game against Samoa will be hard for us, the players are looking forward to it though and we just have to make sure we improve against them.”
Squad list: 1. Melody TATE (GK), 2. Daina KALOPONG, 3. Monica MELTEVIEL, 4. Jasmina TAKARO, 5. Louisa KALPRAM, 6. Nadine KILETEIR, 7. Brenda ANIS, 8. Emilia TARAVAKI, 9. Priscilla CHARLEY, 10. Paulieana MANWO, 12. Dilisa YEOYER, 13. Cllemontine SENIS, 14. Keren COULON, 15. Rina BATICK, 16. Eva BOE, 17. Julie-Rose NASSE, 18. Johnita WILLIE, 19. Delphine KALMET, 20. Noela BAKOKOTO (GK), 21. Elmah AIJIBI
Coach: Joel RARUA (VAN)
New Caledonia v Tonga
Thursday 8 October, 2015
Kick-off: 15h30
NCLvTGA
Match Officials
Referee: Salesh CHAND (FIJ)
Assistant Referee 1: Nagarita JIMMY (SOL)
Assistant Referee 2: Bernard MUTUKERA (SOL)
Fourth Official: Finau VULIVULI (FIJ)
New Caledonia
The players: Malory Oniary was a bright spark for New Caledonia against Samoa, popping up for a goal and creating a number of other chances for her teammates. Isabelle Hace has looked threatening with ball at feet all tournament, but needs more help if she is going to turn that into goals for her side.
The vital statistics: New Caledonia have conceded 36 goals so far, that’s the same number as Tonga and Vanuatu combined.
Coach Quote: “I’ve seen what the Tongans can do and I think they play at a similar level to Samoa, and sometimes us. But with all our injuries I really don’t know how I can put together a strong side. We will try and do our best to get something out of the match.”
Squad list: 1. Emma IE (GK), 2. Christy ARU, 3. Noe VALEFAKAAGA, 4. Marie-Luce TCHACKO, 5. Coralie BRANDAO, 6. Dominique NEXON, 7. Yali HACE, 8. Isabelle HACE, 9. Lyndsay NYIPIE, 10. Josiane AYAWA, 11. Marlory ONIARY, 12. Julie DJAOUA, 14. Cythia POAPEDA, 15. Christiane WHAAP, 20. Noemie TROJANIE (GK)
Absent: 13. Sydney GATHA, 17. Dolores KECINE
Coach: Kamali FITIALEATA (NCL)
Tonga
The players: Malia Tongia bagged a hat trick in Tonga’s last game and has been their biggest threat on goal so far. Through the middle Vea Funaki and Seini Lutu are creative players who are dangerous with time on the ball.
The vital statistics: After two games Tonga have already conceded their second-highest number of goals at an OFC U-20 Women’s Championship, with a total of 18 goals let in against New Zealand and Samoa. The 2002 edition was their worst defensive display, conceding 27 goals across four games.
Coach Quote: “New Caledonia are a very skilful team but we really need to win the game tomorrow. The first thing we need to do better is to keep our concentration levels and the second is playing to our combinations better, because previously we have played too slow and into defenders.”
Squad list: Heleni TAHITUA (GK), 2. Ofaloto LAAKULU, 3. Heilala MOALA, 4. Katalina Taliauli, 5. Manusiu Latavao, 6. Vea Funaki, 7. Seini Lutu, 8. Halaunga TAHOLO, 9. Liliani KAITAPU, 10. Malia TONGIA, 11. Alexandra FIFITA, 12. Siunipa TALASINGA, 13. Manu LATU, 14. Meleseini TUFUI, 15. Taylor PARKER, 16. Sosefina HAVEA, 21. Mele AKOLO (GK), 22. Fipe KAUVVAKA (GK)
Coach: Penateti FEKE (TGA)

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