Fiji secured top spot in Group B with a 2-0 success over Papua New Guinea and they will be joined in progressing by Tahiti, who just pipped Papua New Guinea to second place on goal difference after overwhelming Kiribati 17-1.
In Group A, Vanuatu must now pack their bags despite beating American Samoa 8-0 but the result of the day went to Solomon Islands, who produced the goods when the pressure was on with a 2-1 upset win over defending champions New Caledonia. Ten-man Tuvalu held Guam to a 1-1 draw in the day’s other game.
There was plenty of entertainment across all five fixtures but it was the Fiji-Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands-New Caledonia clashes, which had the same late afternoon kick off, that brought the most intrigue.
Going into the matches, Fiji had already confirmed their passage past the pool stages and only a freak set of results would have denied New Caledonia a semi-final berth. But Papua New Guinea, Tahiti, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu were all sweating on today’s games and needed to earn positive results to have any chance of going through.
Vanuatu held up their side of the bargain with their heavy win over American Samoa at Rivière Salée, substitute Jean Kaltak notching a second-half hat-trick in a match that saw Daniel Michel, who posted a double, Richard Garae, Michell Kaltak and Selwin Sese Ala also score.
It looked at that point like Vanuatu were on track for the semis but their hopes were dashed when Solomon Islands produced one of the performances of the tournament in the game that followed, breaking Vanuatu hearts and booking their own semi-final spot in the process.
New Caledonia had yet to lose any of their group matches and had not even conceded a goal in their four previous fixtures. But, knowing nothing less than a win would do, Solomon Islands took the game to Les Cagous and dominated for large periods.
The Bonitos got the reward their endeavour deserved in the 66th minute when Joses Nawo side-footed a Henry Fa’arodo free kick home to break the deadlock but the lead didn’t last long, the hosts replying eight minutes later through Bertrand Kai. The Solomons were not prepared to give up on their dreams of Games glory though and scored what proved to be the winner through James Naka with just over 10 minutes to go.
At the nearby Stade Boewa, Tahiti were in a similar position to Vanuatu – needing to win heavily and then hoping the other result went the right way – but, unlike Vanuatu, saw everything go to plan. They posted the massive victory over Kiribati they needed to better Papua New Guinea’s goal difference and then watched with delight as their rivals failed to earn any points against Fiji and were therefore eliminated.
Teaonui Tehau scored six for Tahiti while Steevy Chong Hue struck a hat-trick as 10 players got on the scoresheet. Kiribati’s sole response to the onslaught was provided by Erene Bwakineti.
That result put the pressure on Papua New Guinea to get something out of the Fiji game and they failed to do so, having no answer to goals from Avinesh Swamy and Malakai Kainihewe.
The day’s other game had little riding on it as neither Guam or Tuvalu could make the semi-finals but both sides had only won a match each so far and would have been keen to end with another victory. Guam were the more disappointed at the final whistle as Tuvalu were a man down for most of the match after the 17th minute sending off of goalkeeper Jelly Selau.
The offence led to a penalty, tucked away by Jason Cunliffe, but Tuvalu replied with a Togavai Stanley free kick seven minutes later and Guam couldn’t take advantage of their numerical advantage to earn the win.
The semi-finals will be held on Wednesday and will see games take place outside of the Nouméa region for the first time. New Caledonia will take on Tahiti in a clash of the traditional francophone rivals at Stade Yoshida in Kone while Fiji will meet Solomon Islands at Stade Hnasse on the island of Lifou.

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