See below for all the play-by-play action.
The starting line-ups were as follows:
Cook Islands: 1. Tony JAMIESON (GK) (c), 2. John PAREANGA, 6. Allan BOERE, 7. Joseph NGAUORA, 8. Grover HARMON, 9. Campbell BEST, 11. Taylor SAGHABI, 14. Nicholas FUNNELL, 16. Mii JOSEPH, 17. Tahiri ELIKANA, 18. Geongsa TISAM
Coach: Maurice TILLOTSON
Kiribati: 1. Tarariki TAROTU (GK), 4. Kaben IOTEBA, 5. Enri TENUKAI, 6. Nabaruru BATIRI, 7. Atanuea ERITARA, 8. Antin NANOTAAKE, 10. Jeff JONG (c), 11. Joseph YAN, 13. Erene BWAKINETI, 15. Martin Miriata, 17. Biitamatang KEAKEA
Coach: Pine IOSEFA
Referee: Betrand BILLION (NCL)
Assistant referee 1: Didier HMUZO (NCL)
Assistant referee 2: Ruilly ERMANEL (NCL)
4th official: Isidore ASSIENE-AMBASSA
The match kicks off
2′ Joseph Ngauora gets into a good position on the right of the box for Cook Islands but Martin Miriata defends well
3′ Cook Islands have their first shot on target when a Ngauaora cross finds its way to Taylor Saghabi at the far edge of the box and he rifles a shot straight at goalkeeper Tarariki Tarotu
6′ A Geongsa Tisam free kick takes a deflection off the Kiribati wall and Tarotu is able to make a routine save
10′ Saghabi swings a cross over from the left for Cook Islands but has too much height on it to find a team mate
12′ Cook Islands are enjoying most of the ball and Kiribati are yet to break out of their half in a meaningful manner
14′ Fullback John Pareanga hits a speculative effort from the edge of the box when the ball breaks to him after a Geongsa Tisam free kick but his effort goes well over the bar
16′ Goalkeeper Tarotu has to race from his line to beat Nicholas Funnell to a Cook Islands long ball
22′ Tatoru punches away a deep cross from Pareanga
24′ Atanuea Eritara tries his luck from well out for Kiribati but the ambitious attempt goes over the bar
26′ Joseph Yan has Kiribati’s best chance of the match when the ball breaks to him in the box but he drags his left-foot strike wide
27′ GOAL!!! Cook Islands 1 – Kiribati 0: Cook Islands finally make their possession count when Taylor Saghabi runs onto a through ball and places it past Tarotu
32′ YELLOW CARD: Campbell Best is cautioned for Cook Islands
36′ Saghabi cuts onto his right foot and crosses from the left but Tarotu comes out to gather before a Cook Islands team mate can reach the ball
38′ Cook Islands goalkeeper and captain Tony Jamieson leaves his line to sweep up a loose ball on the edge of his box
39′ Kiribati have a chance when captain Jeff Long gets his head to a Antin Nanotaake corner but can’t get his effort on target
40′ SUBSTITUTION: Atanuea Eritara is replaced by Karotu Bakaane for Kiribati
44′ Goalkeeper Jamieson is injured in a challenge and play is held up while the Cook Islands skipper receives treatment
45′ Play restarts and Jamieson appears to have recovered
45′ Two minutes of injury time will be played
45′ + 1′ YELLOW CARD: Erene Bwakineti is cautioned for Kiribati
The first half comes to an end
The second half kicks off
48′ Kiribati break forward and force a corner
49′ Nothing comes of the corner and now Cook Islands are able to build an attack again
50′ Nicholas Funnell latches onto a Cook Islands through ball but defender Nabaruru Batiri comes across to defend well
56′ Grover Harmon curls a free kick towards the Kiribati goal from the edge of the area but Tarotu makes a straightforward save
58′ Allan Boare is injured for CooK Islands and has to leave the field to receive treatment
58′ SUBSTITUTION: Erene Bwakineti is replaced by Antino Baraniko for Kiribati
59′ Boare comes back on and seems to be suffering no side effects
63′ Another Cook Islands player has to leave the field after picking up an injury, this time its centre back Geongsa Tisam
64′ SUBSTITUTION: Tisam is unable to continue and is replaced by Roger Manuel for Cook Islands
65′ Karotu Bakaane has a difficult chance to score for Kiribati under pressure and can’t beat Jamieson
68′ Jamieson has to venture to the edge of his area to gather a loose ball
70′ Kiribati break through big striker Bakaane but can’t fashion an opportunity
71′ SUBSTITUTION: Nicholas Funnell is replaced by Paul Turepu for Cook Islands
73′ Kiribati have enjoyed more of the ball in this second half but have not been able to create much going forward
73′ YELLOW CARD: Joseph Yan is cautioned for Kiribati
74′ Bakaane runs onto a lofted ball in the box but Cook Islands defender Allan Boere does well to deny him
74′ The ball break quickly to the other end and Campbell Best blazes a volley wide of the Kiribati goal
77′ YELLOW CARD: Karotu Bakaane is cautioned for Kiribati
80′ Cook Islands waste a glorious chance to score when Joseph Ngauora runs onto a ball down the right and squares for substitute Roger Manuel, who somehow puts his shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy
83′ Taylor Saghabi controls a bouncing ball in the box and lobs the ball toward goal but Tarotu gathers easily
84′ Campbell Best has a good chance for Cook Islands but Tarotu saves well
86′ Antin Nanotaake bends a free kick over the Cook Islands bar
87′ Bakaane has a excellent opportunity to get Kiribati on the scoresheet but lifts the ball over the bar under pressure from Jamieson
86′ YELLOW CARD: Jamieson is cautioned for Cook Islands after claiming Yan was offside a little too forcefully
89” GOAL!!! Cook Islands 2 – Kiribati 0: Cook Islands finally score again when Taylor Saghabi smashes a loose ball inside the near post for his second
90′ Two minutes of injury time will be played
90′ + 2′ GOAL!!! Cook Islands 3 – Kiribati 0: Cook Islands have their third through John Pareanga
90′ + 2′ SUBSTITUTION: Campbell Best is injured leading up to the goal and is replaced by John Quijano for the final seconds
The final whistle is blown