Penalty drama and history makers at Pacific Games

The football tournament at the Pacific Games ended in dramatic fashion.

In the men’s tournmaent hosts Solomon Islands took on New Caledonia.

The Solomons were looking for their first ever gold medal in football at the Pacific Games, while New Caledonia were hunting their eight.

It was New Caledonia who took the lead first, through Lues Waya, before John Oroboulu equalised right before half time.

But New Caledonia would retake the lead before the break, as Shene Welepane scored in added time.

In the second half it was again Orobulu’s time to shine, as he brought the score level in the 71st minute.

New Caledonia had Morgan Mathelone sent off in for two yellow cards, but the Solomon Islands couldn’t find another goal, and after extra time the match went to penalties.

There New Caledonia proved the strongest, but had to wait until their eight penalty to take the win. Fonzy Ranchain missed from the spot for New Caledonia, while David Supa and John Orobulu missed for the Solomons.

“It was a tough match going up against Solomon Islands on home turf with a huge crowd. Despite the heat, we held on tight right until the end,” New Caledonia coach Johann Sidaner told the Pacific Games organizer.

Unbeaten PNG

In the women’s tournament Papua New Guinea continued their unbeaten run by beating Fiji 4-1.

PNG have won every single women’s football tournament since it was first introduced in 2003, taking their total gold tally up to six.

But Fiji were no pushover for PNG, despite the scoreline.

PNG took an early lead, following a Phylis Pala goal after 20 minutes, but both teams had solid chances to score more.

Going into the second half, the scoreline was still 1-0 to PNG, and Fiji thought they had an equaliser but it was disallowed for offside.

Instead it was PNG who could extend their lead as Marie Kaipu scored twice in ten minutes to put PNG in total control.

Fiji’s pacey striker Trina Davis pulled one back in added time, but minutes later Kaipu completed a hattrick and finalized the score at 4-1.

“I told the girls if we have any chances, we just have to put our chances away, and that’s what they did in the second half. We had our chances; we put them away. I think the girls deserve this gold medal,” PNG coach Eric Komeng said.

Final standings:

Here’s how the tournament finished up after all the placement matches and bronze medal finals.

Men’s:

1. New Caledonia
2. Solomon Islands
3. Fiji
4. Vanuatu
5. Tahiti
6. Papua New Guinea
7. Samoa
8. Cook Islands
9. Tuvalu
10. Northern Mariana Islands
11. Tonga
12. American Samoa

Women’s:

1. Papua New Guinea
2. Fiji
3. New Caledonia
4. Samoa
5. Vanuatu
6. Solomon Islands
7. Tonga
8. Tahiti
9. American Samoa
10. Cook Islands

About Author

Ola Bjerkevoll

A passion for everything football and especially in Oceania. Owner of Football in Oceania.