A hat-trick from Solomon Islands Captain Jayroll Patty was enough to secure a semi-final place for the team from the Hapi Isles as they defeated ten-man New Caledonia 3-1 to take control of Group A in the OFC Men’s Under-19 Championships at Football HQ in Apia, Samoa.

The balance of the match swung in favour of the Solomon Islands just before the twenty-minute mark as New Caledonia were reduced to ten men. After being awarded a free-kick Kyllian Wiako, unhappy with the treatment he received in the tackle, was dismissed for retaliation.

Solomon Islands took advantage and broke the deadlock nine minutes before the interval. A horror mistake at the back by New Caledonia in attempting to play out from inside their own six-yard box, resulted in Patty pouncing on a loose ball, side-stepping his marker, and lashing a shot into the bottom corner.

However, the ten-men were on terms shortly after. A superbly flighted corner from Maurice Katrawa two minutes before half-time was met at the near post by a bullet header from Jemmanuel Siwoine that flashed past Jaron Faiga to level the scores. And yet Solomon Islands went into the changing rooms ahead. Patty restoring their lead with a drive from outside the box into the bottom corner.

New Caledonia went searching for a second equaliser in the second half but were caught with sixteen minutes left by a third Solomon Islands goal, that brought up a wonderful hat-trick for Patty.

The Solomons skipper brilliantly rolled his marker down the left flank and advanced into the penalty area before lashing a fierce shot that found its way through Raphael Genton in the New Caledonia goal to make it 3-1 and secure the points for his team and progression to the last four.

STATISTICS

Group A

New Caledonia: 1 (Jemmanuel SIWOINE 43’)

Solomon Islands: 3 (Jayroll PATTY 36’, 45+3’, 74’)

HT: 1-2

Papua New Guinea kept alive their hopes of a semi-final place in the OFC Men’s Under-19 Championship through progression from Group A with a highly entertaining 4-2 victory over host nation Samoa at Football HQ in Apia.

In a must-win contest for both teams, the pair having been defeated on Matchday One in Group A, Samoa took the lead in the seventeenth minute. Isikeli Brown met a corner with a firm downward header that was pushed away by Ricky Hulana in the PNG goal but was steered home by the alert Isiah Afamasaga for his second goal of the competition.

It was somewhat against the run of play that PNG equalised with six minutes to go to the interval. A precise pass from inspirational Captain Nalau Moses found Albhan Rani in front of goal and, from the angle, he drove his shot across Samoan goalkeeper Iosua Iakopo Sapani for 1-1.

Having found one goal, PNG scored again five minutes later. David Tita was the man for the moment, taking advantage of a fortunate ricochet into his path to race clear on goal and cooly and calmly pick his spot, side-footing a simple finish past the exposed Iakopo Sapani.

It didn’t take long for Samoa to level things up at the start of the second half. PNG failed to clear a long throw in from substitute Kunal Matau and fellow half-time replacement Lomitusi Scanlan thrashed home a magnificent first-time strike to get the Samoan supporters bouncing.

However, moments later the raucous home crowd were silenced again. PNG Midfield maestro Moses was again the architect, finding Harrison Ima with a reverse pass and the left-sided forward steered home an adroit finish. When Moses then burst clear of the Samoan defence in the 55th minute to slide home the fourth, PNG took command of the contest and their own destiny.

The only dampener on proceedings for PNG was the dismissal of Rani in stoppage time, given his marching orders after receiving a second yellow card.

STATISTICS

Group A

Papua New Guinea: 4 (Albhan RANI 39’, David TITA 44’, Harrison IMA 49’, Nalau MOSES 55’)

Samoa: 2 (Isaiah AFAMASAGA 17’, Lomitusi SCANLAN 47’)

HT: 2-1

Photo Credit: OFC via Phototek