The Solomon Islands have picked up the first victory of their 2025 OFC Women’s Nations Cup campaign, defeating Vanuatu 2-1 in Group B at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
Vanuatu were the aggressors for much of the match, but two defensive mistakes forced by Madeline Arukau, propelled the Solomon Islands towards three points.
After suffering defeat to Fiji in their opening match, the Solomon Islands knew that failing to pick up points would leave their campaign in a grim state. Whilst Vanuatu were trying to maintain the momentum from their opening win over Tonga, the nation’s first-ever victory at an OFC Women’s Nations Cup.
It was cagey for much of the opening fifteen minutes as both teams fought for the ascendancy, but the game changed when Nelly Kaltack clipped Madeline Arukau in the penalty box, and the referee awarded a penalty for the Solomon Islands.
Captain Ileen Pegi duly converted, picking out the bottom-right corner with a well-placed penalty in the 18th minute, her fifth all-time goal at the tournament, 15 years after making her OFC Women’s Nations Cup debut at the 2010 event in Auckland.
Vanuatu struggled to conjure much going forward in response, and despite pressing up the pitch, often found the final pass lacking into the final third.
Leimata Simon scored three against Tonga in her tournament opener, but was reduced to just a single long-range shot in the first half.
Still trailing after the break, Vanuatu upped the tempo in search of a route back into the match, as Jane Alatoa pulled a shot just wide of the left post.
Defensively they shut off again though, conceding a second in the 57th minute.
Arukau, who won the earlier penalty, capitalised on some sloppy Vanuatu defending, to steal the ball inside the box and slot it inside the bottom left corner of the net.
Limas Erikan had scored the goal when Vanuatu beat the Solomon Islands 1-0 earlier in the year, and was substituted into the game off the bench with half an hour to play, as things began to get desperate for Jean Robert Yelou’s team.
Two more chances fell for Alatoa soon after, first shaving the base of the left post, and then forcing Zainab Donga into a strong save at her near post.
It wasn’t to be Vanuatu’s day though, and that was epitomised by Henriette Sangul’s penalty miss in the 68th minute. She dragged her effort wide of the left post, after Solomon Islands defender Bridget Alele had been adjudged to have handled the ball in the box.
The Solomon Islands should have had a third goal when Lorina Solosaia was put through on-goal, but Amelia Reddy came off her line to parry away.
Leimata Simon did ensure to sprinkle some of her magic at least, lifting the ball over the head of Donga into the back of the net with a shot off the right flank in the 81st minute. It was her fourth goal of the tournament in just two games, but proved a consolation for Vanuatu on a frustrating day.
With three points each, both nations fates will hang in the balance on the final matchday of Group B play. Vanuatu will face hosts Fiji, whilst the Solomon Islands will meet Tonga.
Vanuatu: 1 (Leimata SIMON 81’)
Solomon Islands: 2 (Ileen PEGI 18’, Madeline ARUKAU 57’ )
HT: 0-1
Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek