(Photo Credit OFC Media)
Pacific Games champions Papua New Guinea and beaten finalists in Honiara Fiji, headline match day two at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament-Oceania Qualifier in Apia on Saturday.
The two sides go head-to-head in a crucial Group A match with the young Fijian side determined to avenge their 4-1 defeat by PNG in December.
Angeline Chua’s Fiji side impressed in a 10-0 opening win over American Samoa on Wednesday, while Eric Komeng’s side were held to a 1-1 draw by the Solomon Islands. Komeng expressed disappointment afterwards over PNG’s lack of control in midfield, and he has hinted he will make changes for what shapes as a crunch match at the Football Federation Samoa (FFS) Headquarters.
Striker Sofi Diyalowai scored a hat-trick inside 16 minutes on Wednesday, and she says Fiji is determined to avenge their Pacific Games Final defeat.
“We want to give all our best for this game, it was a really tough game back in Solomon Islands, but we have learned from our mistakes, our weaknesses and are looking forward to the game tomorrow.” Diyalowai said.
In the other Group A match the Solomon Islands play American Samoa with Batram Suri’s side confident they can improve on their hard-fought draw with PNG.
Tournament favourites New Zealand square off against hosts Samoa in the battle between opening day winners in Group B.
The Football Ferns were comfortable 3-0 victors over Tonga on Wednesday but will want to improve on their finishing against a Samoa side that squandered numerous chances of their own in an entertaining 1-0 win over Vanuatu. The hosts felt a little fortunate to secure the points in the end, needing an injury time penalty.
In the other Group B game Vanuatu face Tonga with both sides desperate for all three points to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals.
All matches are shown LIVE on FIFA +
Match Day 2
Saturday, February 10 (Samoa time)
American Samoa v Solomon Islands, 12:00pm
Vanuatu v Tonga, 1:00pm
Papua New Guinea v Fiji, 3:00pm
New Zealand v Samoa, 5:00pm