Solomon Islands have beaten Papua New Guinea 2-1 in their final 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Qualifiers – OFC Stage 3 group match at PNG Football Stadium in Port Moresby.
The result means Solomon Islands top Group B and will progress to the Stage 3 final where they will meet Group A winners New Zealand in a home-and-away series.
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Papua New Guinea: 23. Ronald WARISAN (GK), 2. Abel REDENUT, 4. Alwin KOMOLONG, 5. Felix KOMOLONG, 7. Raymond GUNEMBA, 8. Michael FOSTER (C), 9. Nigel DABINYABA, 10. David BROWNE, 14. Emmanuel SIMON, 17. Jacob SABUA, 19. Clement WILLIS
Substitutes: 1. Kusuga KOMOLONG (GK), 3. Richard ALOIS, 6. Patrick AISA, 13. Roland BALA, 15. Phillip STEVEN, 16. Orbert BIKA, 18. Stahl GUBAG, 20. Luke KAPRANGI (GK), 21. Ila DAVID (GK), 22. Donovan MURRAY
Coach: Flemming Serritslev (DEN)
Solomon Islands: 1. Phillip MANGO (GK), 2. Joachim WAROI, 3. Robert LAUA, 4. Nelson SALE, 5. Haddis AENGARI, 6. Henry FA’ARODO, 7. Jerry DONGA, 9. Benjamin TOTORI, 10. Micah LEA’ALAFA, 11. Gagame FENI 17. Atkin KAUA
Substitutes: 8. Timothy BAKALE, 12. Zantas KABINI (GK), 13. Emmanuel POILA, 14. Thomas AMASIA, 18. Obed OFEA, 20. James NAKA, 21. Richard HIROMANA
Coach: Felipe VEGA ARANGO ALONSO (ESP)
FULL TIME | PNG 1-2 SOL
90’+4′ FENI goes it alone up the right flank but BIKA puts in the effort to close him down
90’+4′ GUBAG shoots low but Solomon Islands scramble it away
90″3′ Papua New Guinea with a free kick just inside Solomons half – but SALE heads clear
90′ A minimum of four minutes additional time
90′ SUB PNG | Abel REDENUT makes room for Stahl GUBAG
88′ Emmanuel SIMON with a prime opportunity in front of goal but he sends it over
88′ SUB SOL | Robert LAUA is replaced by Richard HIROMANA
86′ PNG have a free kick and there’s a player down from Solomon Islands in teh area – the ref speaks to someone from both teams
84′ LEA’ALAFA tries to pick out a lone TOTORI with a long ball but finds the waiting hands of WARISAN
83′ SUB PNG | Nigel DABINYABA is replaced by Obert BIKA
82′ Patrick AISA is causing problems for Solomons and picks up a free kick off the edge of the box after a FA’ARODO challenge
81′ PNG corner and FENI is back on the field as the ball is swung long by GUNEMBA
80′ PNG in possession as FENI steps off for treatment and it’s 10v10 right now
79′ REDENUT on the overlap tries to put in a cross but hits the body of FENI
78′ Clement WILLIS tracks an aerial long ball well and heads it out as WAROI waits below
76′ Papua New Guinea attacking with some clear intent here and putting their opponent under immense pressure
76′ David BROWNE is in the Solomon box searching but can’t manage a clean shot
74′ David BROWNE gets the better of FA’ARADO, unfortunately he passes right to his opponents
72′ SUB PNG | Jacob SABUA is replaced by Patrick AISA
71′ Clement WILLIS denies an advancing TOTORI with a timely challenge to deny him the shot
70′ A little tempestuous from GUNEMBA as the frustration rises – PNG doing very well when in possession and hardly looking to be at a man disadvantagge
67′ Fantastic through the middle from LEA’ALAFA who has both SIMON and SABUA running in circles before laying off side to WAROI
66′ Another overhead effort from GUNEMBA this time he gives it too much air
65′ SUB SOL | An injured Jerry DONGA is replaced by Emmanuel POILA
63′ GUNEMBA attempts an overhead in the Solomons box but tangles with FA’ARODO
62′ Free kick for PNG and David BROWNE spies an opportunity to go quickly and it almost pays off but MANGO has read it
60′ MANGO just touches the ball and it’s a corner for PNG which then just misses the waiting head of A. KOMOLONG
60′ FA’ARODO’s challenge leaves SIMON on the deck but he’s soon up directing play for the free kick
59′ WARISAN is ready when Jerry DONGA comes racing at him – booting clear away from the arriving attacker
58′ Foster again causing all sorts of trouble for Solomon Islands with some fast-paced attacking and solid defending
57′ A poor challenge from Timothy BAKALE sees him concede a free kick in the Solomon Islands half
56′ Superb defendeing from Michael FOSTER who tracks back and wins possession
55′ FA’ARODO sernds the free kcik flying off target
54′ LEA’ALAFA goes to ground after a SIMON challenge and it’s a free kick for Solomon Islands
53′ YELLOW CARD ” Michael FOSTER is cautioned
52′ TOTORI magic sees him round A. KOMOLONG and put in a killer cross but LEA’ALAFA has over run it
50′ GUNEMBA speeds past his marker but SALE follows well and manages to put the striker off
48′ PNG make an intercept and Jacob SABUA tries to send GUNEMBA through on goal but he can’t get to the ball first
46 Second half gets underway at PNG Football Stadium
HALF-TIME SUB SOL | Atkin KAUA is replaced by Timothy BAKALE
HALF-TIME | PNG 1-2 SOL
45’+2′ GOAL! PNG 1-2 SOL | Jerry DONGA is on his own with just WARISAN to beat and he does so with precision
45’+2′ TOTORI puts DONGA through
45′ There will be a minimum of two minutes additional time
44′ SIMON uses FA’ARODO to get some extra lift and it’s Solomons free kick
43′ BROWNE beats past WAROI and manages to get a cross in but AENGARI gets a head to it
42′ PNG win back and try to send GUNEMBA on goal but he’s come from an offside position
42′ Great height from David BROWNE but it’s not a great challenge on Nelson SALE and it’s a free kick for Solomon Islands
40′ YELLOW CARD | A studs up challenge from Raymond GUNEMBA on Robert LAUA earns him a caution
39′ MANGO almost loses the ball with DABINYABA ready to pounce but manages to recover and claim
38′ Alwin KOMOLONG makes a move from the back and finds REDENUT waiting on the switch
37′ Abel REDENUT goes in strong and hard on FENI conceding a free kick for Solomon Islands
36′ The flag goes up on Gagame FENI who pushed high on the right in search of possession
34′ YELLOW CARD | Atkin KAUA’s challenge on Nigel DABINYABA earns him a caution
33′ GOAL!!! PNG 1-1 SOL | Henry FA’ARODO converts from the spot
31′ RED CARD | Felix KOMOLONG is sent to the changing rooms early after he handles the ball in front of goal denying a goalscoring opportunity
31′ DONGA and LEA’ALAFA combine after WARISAN comes racing off his line leaving the goal open
30′ WARISAN picks out David BROWNE who chests down but WAROI gets a foot in before he can create anthing
29′ Waist-height delivery from FA’ARODO is belted away from the goal by Abel REDENUT
28′ SIMON comes in from behind on LEA’ALAFA and it’s a free kick 14m off the top of the area
27′ Exciting combination play between BROWNE and SIMON to keep FA’ARODO and WAROI on their toes
26′ Solomon Islands have a corner but can’t create anything from it
25′ LEA’ALAFA beats two and swings in a shot that’s just a few inches over the cross bar
24′ SIMON curls the free kick at goal and its punched away by MANGO but needs help getting upfield from FA’ARODO
23′ Emmanuel SIMON with a challenge on WAROI that concedes a free kick
22′ LEA’ALAFA touches through to TOTORI who hits it on-target – a fumble from WARISAN but he recovers
20′ GUNEMBA goes for goal once again but its touched out for a corner
18′ GOAL!!! PNG 1-0 SOL | A quick counter attack and some poor communication in front of goal between MANGO and his defender allows Raymond GUNEMBA to poke in a loose ball
17′ TOTORI smothered by three defenders as he beats past Alwin KOMOLONG
16′ Benji TOTORI took a knock in that melee and requires treatment off the field
15′ CLOSE CALL! Papua New Guinea make a clearance off the goal line after a failed clearance puts them under pressure
14′ Gagame FENI with a touch and volley that’s just tipped over by Ronald WARISAN
14′ David BROWNE sent chasing a long ball but he’s got Joachim WAROI also on the chase
13′ Stunning display of control from LEA’ALAFA but Solomons struggle to build on it
12 A free kick in the centre circle for PNG after a challenge from Henry FA’ARODO
11′ Michael FOSTER has the ball on the edge of the 6-yard box and smashes it just over the cross bar
9′ Another questionable challenge from SABUA this time on KAUA earns a word from Japanese referee Jumpei IIDA
8′ Raymond GUNEMBA races directly at goal but he’s halted by a well timed Nelson SALE challenge
7′ LEA’ALAFA curls the ball in at the back post hoping to pick out KAUA but has sent it too long
6′ Jacob SABUA leaves his foot out and brings down an advancing LEA’ALAFA
5′ Two shots from Nigel DABINYABA but Phillip MANGO twice denies at close range
4′ Atkin KAUA behind the delivery into the box but it’s cleared away from danger
3′ Solomon Islands with a free kick 3m off the right corner of the PNG box
2′ Jerry DONGA and David BROWNE go up for an aerial ball and eventually it’s out off the PNG-man
1′ UNDERWAY | A quick start and already a foul from Michael FOSTER on Micah LEA’ALAFA
Match Officials
Referee: Jumpei IIDA (JPN)
Assistant Referee 1: Toru SAGARA (JPN)
Assistant Referee 2: Akane YAGI (JPN)
Fourth Official: Minoru TOJO (JPN)