It’s the first time in ten years that Tahiti will contest the final, with their last victory coming on home soil in 1995 against Solomon Islands.
It’s an afternoon Patrice Flaccadori and his players won’t be forgetting in a hurry as the hosts pushed them to the limits. Tahiti opened strong with Fred Tissot combining well with his midfield early on but lacking that finishing touch. However they took their foot off the pedal somewhat and allowed their opponent into the match, an invitation Papua New Guinea took with both hands.
Otto Kusunan caused havoc out wide pushing forward and racing back to defend. Patrick Aisa and Jacob Sabua were also working overtime to help their side to the final. Despite a couple of chances that came close to testing Temauiarii Crolas in goal for Tahiti, Papua New Guinea couldn’t break the deadlock before the break.
Back for the second half, Tahiti’s Tavaimoana Meslien was cautioned and Papua New Guinea awarded a free kick however the Tahitians turned over possession and rapidly headed off on a counter attack. The clearance from Ismael Pole was poor from the first effort and Fred Tissot wasted no time in capitalising to put the Francophones ahead five minutes short of the hour mark. Twenty minutes later Tauatua Lucas was rewarded for his unrelenting chasing and pressure with a second goal for Tahiti.
A foul on the edge of the Tahiti penalty area in the 82nd minute saw Papua New Guinea awarded a free kick, and with Semmy lining up behind, it looked dangerous for the Tahitians who put a wall right across the goal mouth. Despite instructions from their bench to hold the line, they rushed out to meet the low drive from Semmy giving him the room he needed to put the ball under the wall and into the net.
Papua New Guinea went in search of an equaliser but they’d left the chase too late and with time running down Tahiti were able to do enough to prevent the hosts from progressing.
“We knew that PNG would be difficult as they’re playing at home but we put a plan in place and it worked,” an elated Faccadori says.
“It was a great game, the players did outstandingly well and really worked hard it was fantastic.”
It was commiserations for counterpart Ricki Herbert who was left disappointed by the result.
“I thought in the first half we totally controlled the game and if it hadn’t been for a blunder by one of the boys to give them an opportunity – well that really disappoints me.
“The mentality in this sport has to change. It’s ok playing an average national league game but if you’re going to be better internationally then you’ve got to do things right all the time and that’s the thing that’s hurt us today.”
After the high of qualifying for the Olympic Games in Rio just two days earlier, Fiji had to quickly come back down from the clouds as they took on a well-rested New Caledonia for a chance to do the double.
While the pinnacle for Fiji was Olympic qualification, for New Caledonia the Pacific Games gold is theirs, and they showed that from the outset. With two back-to-back titles to defend, as well as a record six regional titles to add to, Les Cagous had a lot riding on the match.
Fiji looked nothing like the side that held Vanuatu scoreless over 120 minutes of hard and fast football, with the Francophones running rings around them from the outset. It took just five minutes to knock a chink in the normally solid Fiji defence as Jim Ouka unleashed a fine strike that flew past Tevita Koroi.
It took close to 30 minutes, but Fiji got their equaliser. Thomas Schmidt made a great diving save to push away from his net, but he could do nothing but watch as the follow up was smashed over his head by Napolioni Qasevakatini from close range.
The first half scoring wasn’t done there however as Cedric Decoire made no mistakes when bringing down a pass from Ouka and smashing it home.
Early in the second half New Caledonia had an opportunity to extend their lead when Tony Tuivuna conceded a penalty. Leon Wahnawe took it and scored, but had to retake after encroachment from a teammate. Unfortunately the second wasn’t as well taken and Koroi was able to deny that extra cushion.
The fatigue in the Fiji started to really set in after the hour mark with sloppy challenges and poor clearances allowing New Caledonia to take control. A reckless challenge from Fiji captain Jale Dreloa saw him pick up his second yellow with ten minutes on the clock, leaving Fiji down a player, but their opponent was unable to take advantage.
Fiji coach Carlos Buzzetti says the tank was empty after an intense 120-odd minutes of football in the Olympic Qualifier final.
“New Caledonia haven’t played for seven days and you can see the difference in speed and freshness. Our players have got nothing left, and it was hard to motivate them after getting the Olympic win, to want to play for the gold medal.
“I’m very proud, we performed very well but we just didn’t have the power left to win the ball quick.”
For opposite Thierry Sardo, the weight of expectation has been lifted somewhat following his side’s win today.
“I think the score could have been much heavier in our favour if we’d been better at finishing today,” Sardo says.
“No-one really believed in us and today we’re into the final and we have to win it, because finals aren’t just for playing. Hopefully we have lost some of those critics with today’s win because those criticisms have been hard for some of the players – I’m proud of them.”
The XV Pacific Games Final will be held at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea between Tahiti and New Caledonia at 7pm on Friday 17 July. The Bronze Medal Match will be played between Papua New Guinea and Fiji at 3pm.

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