SAMOA GONE, TONGA MOVE ON

Samoa were unceremoniously, but valiantly exiled from their own tournament today at the hands of close rivals Tonga. Heading into the match knowing that a win would see them qualify for the semi-finals and a likely encounter with Oceanic heavyweights Fiji, the task seemed relatively simple for the host nation – score more goals than…

  Tahiti women’s team confirmed their passage to the semi-finals of the XIII South Pacific Games Women’s Football Tournament after an exciting 2-0 win over New Caledonia. New Caledonia contributed much to this tournament despite their three defeats and no goals and will have learned much from their first experience at this level of the game. For…

  Fiji’s 100% winning record came to an end after they were held to a 1-1 draw by a disciplined and well-organised New Caledonia at Toleafoa JS Blatter Football Field in Apia this afternoon. In a pulsating encounter New Caledonia’s stock rose further as they became the first team at these games to match Fiji for tenacity – and in…

  Seule Soromon was too hot to handle for plucky Tonga at Toleafoa JS Blatter Football Field today as the pacy striker reeled off a stunning first half hat-trick that formalised Vanuatu’s semi-final spot. But Vanuatu had to overcome a bright start by Tonga who showed some improvement at various stages of each fixture highlighting…

  All the pre-match hype centred on whether Samoa would cope in the absence of outspoken captain and midfield lynchpin Chris Cahill against a Solomon Islands outfit growing more formidable with each passing match. The answer to the Cahill question arrived less than 1 minute into the match when Benjamin Totori finished off a sweet move when the diminutive…

  Fiji’s physical superiority was too much for Solomon Islands to overcome at Toleafoa JS Blatter Football Field today as Asena Reba Ratu and her team eased Timothy Inifiri’s team out of the XIII South Pacific Games Women’s Football Tournament in Apia today. A stunning hat-trick from  Adiela Kurakaba put paid to Solomon Islands slim semi-final chances as…

  Lydia Banabas double strike and further goals from Ara Midi and Margaret Aka were enough to overcome a brave but ultimately futile Cook Islands performance as Papua New Guinea women’s team regained some semblance of form to clinch a semi-final berth at the XIII South Pacific Games – Samoa 2007.  Cook Islands had earlier taken…

Fiji ruled the roost at the XIII South Pacific Games as both the men’s and women’s teams took top spot in their respective sections at J.S.Blatter Football Field in Apia, Samoa today. The men’s team put Tahiti to the sword 4-0 in clinical fashion to set up a final day showdown for group supremacy against…

  Osea Vakatalesau’s rich vein of form continued at the XIII South Pacific Games – Samoa 2007 with a brace that sent Fiji into semi-final ecstasy and condemned Tahiti to elimination. Fiji were always in the driving seat of this match as Tahiti struggled to contain the fluid and imaginative passing movement of a team…

  Papua New Guinea’s title of women’s gold medal favourites received an unexpected setback when Fiji scored an upset 1-0 win at Toleafoa J.S.Blatter Football Field in Apia today. Fiji withstood an almost total 90 minutes of sustained Papua New Guinea pressure only managing to get the ball forward on one or two occasions as…