Tonga have beaten Tahiti 4-1 in an international friendly at the CIFA Academy in Rarotonga.
Two goals from star Mataliki striker Loma McNeese led Tonga to a comeback victory, after falling behind to an early Tahitian goal in the first nine minutes.
It’s Tonga’s second international scalp of the year, whilst Tahiti finish the 2025 calendar without a win to their name, and remain winless since the 2019 Pacific Games.
Both still licking their wounds after suffering an early exit from FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ Qualifying three days earlier, neither nation was particularly high on confidence coming into the fixture.
Tahiti made a quick start, hitting the front inside the first nine minutes. Haranui Le Gayic cut inside off the left flank with some quick feet, before finding Kohai Mai in the penalty area to power into the back of the net. They could have doubled their advantage moments later, Le Gayic forcing Carollyne Fotu into a save after a scramble in the box.
It took just four minutes for Tonga to level up though, Loma McNeese chasing a long ball in-behind the Tahitian defence to score in the 13th minute. McNeese had another shot parried by Gelimma El Hadj Kaddour soon after.
The action slowed down after the early burst from both sides, fatiguing in the heat to head to the half-time sheds level.
Tahitian coach Xavier Samin made three changes to freshen things up at the break, but his side were quickly stunned by two quick Tongan goals.
McNeese scored her second and completed the comeback with a superb long-range effort on her left foot into the top-left corner in the 52nd minute, before Sophiana Moala found the same corner with a similar effort from the top of the box two minutes later. It proved the decisive period, opening daylight between the two sides.
Tahiti pushed to produce a comeback of their own, but struggled for creativity in the final third, and continued to fade away in the conditions. The fourth Tongan goal arrived in the second minute of injury-time, Tema Tonga meeting a cross off the right flank with a well-timed volley into the top of the net.
Both already eliminated from FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ Qualifying, attention now turns to rebuilding themselves on the international stage ahead of future campaigns.
Tonga: 4 (Loma MCNEESE 13’, 52’, Sophiana MOALA 54’, Tema TONGA 90+2′)
Tahiti: 1 (Kohai MAI 9’)
HT: 1-1
Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek