New Zealand beat Solomon Islands 8-0 in the other semi-final earlier today.
The starting line-ups:
Papua New Guinea: 1. Linda BUNAGA (GK), 2. Esther KURABI, 3. Miriam LANTA, 4. Kathrina SALAIAU, 7. Edna THOMAS, 8. Honekaii LINAH, 10. Sandra BIRUM, 11. Zeen LIMBAI, 13. Samantha PENINSA, 15. Deslyne SINIU (c), 16. Lydia BANABAS
Cook Islands: 1. Marjorie TORU (GK), 2. Jennifer AKAVI, 4. Tekura TUTAI, 6. Marissa IROA, 7. Teariivahine-Iteuaterai HENRY (c), 8. Elizabeth HARMON, 9. Dayna NAPA, 10. Regina MUSTONEN, 11. Danielle TREGO, 13. Leiana TEMATA, 16. Upokotea MANULEA
The match kicks off
2′ Linda Bunaga has to race off her line to clear a Teariivahine-Iteuaterai Henry through ball for Cook Islands
4′ Zeen Limbai has a great chance to open the scoring for Papua New Guinea when she goes one-on-one with Cooks goalkeeper Marjorie Toru but her shot rolls wide
7′ We should be in for a good game here as these sides are evenly matched and will be pulling out all the stops to make the final
9′ Dayna Napa breaks down the right for Cooks but some scrambling defending sees her lose the ball
10′ The dangerous Limbai has a run down the left but shoots straight at Toru
12′ Papua New Guinea’s Sandra Birum shows good determination on the left to cross for Limbai but she scuffs her shot and the ball is cleared
14′ Papua New Guinea have a free kick in a promising position near the goal line on the right but Limbai can’t keep her cross away from Toru, who gathers easily
17′ Napa nearly breaks the line for the Cooks but is called back for offside
20′ Papua New Guinea are enjoying a spell of pressure and win a couple of corners but can’t create anything from them
24′ Napa shows good strength to hold off a challenge on the right and break forward but her pass finds Elizabeth Harmon in an offside position
26′ Napa, a real stand-out player for the Cooks at this tournament, again breaks down the right and tries to find strike partner Regina Mustonen but Bunaga gets to the ball first and clears
29′ Papua New Guinea enjoy a few minutes of attacking but Jennifer Akavi clears emphatically for Cooks
33′ Lydia Banabas latches onto a pass down the right for Papua New Guinea and has a one-on-one with Toru but can’t beat the goalkeeper
36′ Harmon tries to get on the end of a bouncing through ball for the Cooks but Bunaga gets there much earlier
38′ Danielle Trego leads a Cooks breakaway but her pass fails to find a team mate
39′ Harmon runs onto a good through ball but Papua New Guinea keeper Bunaga again reads the play well and reaches it first
40′ Mustonen nearly gets right in on goal for Cook Islands but the pass forces her a bit wide and she loses her balance as she hits the ball out for a goal kick
43′ Banabas tries to take a Papua New Guinea long ball in her stride but her first touch is to heavy and goes to keeper Toru
44′ It’s been real end-to-end stuff for much of this entertaining half but few good chances have been created
45′ Play is held up while Limbai leaves the field to be treated for an injury
The referee brings the first half to an end
The second half kicks off
46′ Papua New Guinea go straight on the attack and try to break the deadlock through Limbai but her shot goes straight to Toru
49′ Captain Deslyne Siniu turns sharply and tries to put in Birum for Papua New Guinea but she can’t bring the ball under control
50′ Banabas crosses for Papua New Guinea after playing a sharp one-two with Limbai but it does not have enough power and bounces before reaching Toru
51′ Toru makes a great save at the feet of Limbai and the ball goes out for a corner
52′ Edna Thomas hits a volley over the bar from the corner
54′ Limbai juggles the ball acrobatically on the edge of the box and loops an intended shot goalwards but it bounces straight into the arms of Toru
56′ SUBSTITUTION: Dorcas Sesevo replaces Sandra Birum for Papua New Guinea
59′ Banabas is caught offside for Papua New Guinea
60′ Limbai has the best chance of the match in a one-on-one situation but Toru gets a fingertip to her lob and it goes out for a corner
61′ The corner results in a long-range effort from Kathrina Salaiau which doesn’t trouble Toru at all and rolls out for a goal kick
62′ SUBSTITUTION: Harmon is replaced by Tepaeru Toka for Cook Islands
62′ GOAL!!! Papua New Guinea 1, Cook Islands 0: Limbai bends a corner over Toru and straight into the net to open the scoring
65′ Cook Islands now have to start fashioning some more chances or they will be going out of the tournament
67′ Papua New Guinea have dominated proceedings since the goal
68′ SUBSTITUTION: Aketuke Unuka replaces Leiana Temata for Cook Islands
70′ YELLOW CARD: Samantha Peninsa is cautioned for Papua New Guinea
71′ Unuka almost makes an immediate impact for the Cooks when she charges down the left after being released by Mustonen but her cross goes behind for a goal kick
73′ Toru spills at the feet of Siniu but the Papua New Guinea captain can’t get hold of the ball and it is cleared away
75′ Mustonen whips a near post corner onto the head of Trego but her flick goes over the bar
78′ Tepaeru Toka puts Napa in on goal on the right hand side of the box but she miscontrols her first touch and the ball goes to keeper Bunaga
80′ Cook Islands are tying hard to get back in the game but have not had a shot on target for some time
81′ Papua New Guinea have an appeal for a penalty after Tekura Tutai’s challenge on Limbai but play is waved on
83′ RED CARD: Papua New Guinea goalkeeper Linda Bunaga is sent off for coming out and fouling Napa to deny a goalscoring opportunity
85′ SUBSTITUTION: Papua New Guinea bring on reserve keeper Fidelma Watpore for Lydia Banabas
87′ Cook Islands are putting Papua New Guinea under all sorts of pressure as the search for an equaliser
87′ SUBSTITUTION: Jennifer Akavi is replaced by Tekura Kaukura for Cook Islands
89′ Cook Islands must find a goal from somewhere to stay in the tournament but they are fighting the clock now
90′ The Cooks have been given a boost in their quest for an equaliser with the news that five minutes of injury time will be played
90′ + 4′ The ball is at the Cook Islands end of the field though and they are desperately trying to get it forward
90′ + 5′ Toru comes out to gather the ball at the feet of Limbai
90 + 5′ The Cooks are on the attack through Napa but can’t work an opening
90 + 6′ Cook Islands have a free kick on the left in what will surely be their last chance
90 + 6′ Mustonen blazes the kick over the bar
The final whistle sounds
Papua New Guinea vs. Cook Islands – Match Summary Download PDF