A defensive clinic sees Tahiti frustrate the defending champions Papua New Guinea in Lautoka, securing a 1-1 draw in the second match of the day.
Ericson Komeng’s side knew that a win today would see them become the first side to make the 2025 OFC Women’s Nations Cup knockout stages, while a Tahiti victory would see them go into the final day of group play leading Group A and the defending champions with work to do against Cook Islands.
Komeng made two changes to his side, with Marie Kaipu ruled out altogether with an arm injury, while Keren Kalapai was on the bench, as Nenny Elipas and Charlie Yanding started. Xavier Samin, meanwhile, made three changes, with Tihiura Tahutini, Kohai Mai and Anavai Taaviri getting their first starts of the tournament while Julienne Naomi, Vahinetua Tuiho and Hereana Brothers dropped to the bench.
The opening half an hour proved an evenly matched affair, with Tahiti’s defence, expertly organized by captain Gwendoline Fournier, refusing to let the star-studded PNG attack settle into their rhythm by crowding the holders out of their penalty area who were missing the relentless threat of their Talisman Marie Kaipu.
As in their opening game, Haranui Le Gayic posed a constant threat from the Tahitian midfield, with her deft touches and probing runs looking the most likely source of a Tahitian breakthrough – and it came just before half time.
Le Gayic broke away on a rare Tahitian counterattack to win a penalty for her side, drawing the foul in the penalty area from Raynata Samuel. Kiani Wong stepped up to fire home past Lavina Hola to see Tahiti take the lead into half time.
Unsurprisingly, PNG came out swinging in the second half, and their determination paid off almost instantly.
Combining well with Padio, Charlie Yanding found herself in a rare patch of space in the Tahitian penalty area with time to set herself up for the shot, but Camille Andre was equal to the danger, and it proved a simple stop.
PNG secured their equalizer in the 51st minute. Padio floated over an inch-perfect corner to be met by Samuel, whose powerful header left Andre with no chance.
Parity restored and a renewed sense of confidence PNG went in search of a winner, with their high backline effectively patrolling the halfway line and seeing the remainder of PNG camped out in the Tahitian half.
But despite the spatial dominance, Papua New Guinea were unable to find the final cutting edge, and Tahiti’s resolute defending secured both a vital point and an exciting conclusion to the Group A action on Thursday.
HT: 0-1
Papua New Guinea: 1 (Raynata SAMUEL 51’)
Tahiti: 1 (Kiani WONG 45+4’)
Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek