Resolute Tahitian Defence Secures Draw Setting Up Exciting Final Day Of Group A Action
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
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
3 days ago
- RNZ News
Wapu Sonk stands down from PNG NRL franchise board amid corruption allegations
By Papua New Guinea correspondent Marian Faa , ABC . Wapu Sonk has stood down over allegations of corrupt business dealings linked to a Chinese state-run company. Photo: ABC News / Craig Hansen In short: What's next? A powerful businessman has stood down from the board of Papua New Guinea's new NRL franchise amid corruption concerns relating to business dealings with a Chinese state-owned company. The newly established board has been entrusted with overseeing more than AU$200 million in Australian government funding to set up PNG's new NRL team, which plans to join the rugby league competition in 2028. PNG businessman Wapu Sonk led a successful campaign as chair of the PNG NRL bid in 2024, and was appointed as a director of the franchise board last month. On Friday, PNG Prime Minister James Marape said Sonk had agreed to step aside following corruption concerns reported in the Sydney Morning Herald . The concerns surround business dealings related to Sonk's role as managing director of PNG state-owned oil company Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited (KPHL), and not the NRL franchise. An official letter seen by the ABC shows KPHL insisted that Chinese state-owned company China Petroleum and Pipeline Engineering Corporation award a subcontract to an Australian company owned by Sonk. China Petroleum and Pipeline Engineering Corporation was awarded a contract to upgrade fuel storage facilities at a major wharf outside PNG's capital. The letter suggests that failure to award the subcontracts could "compromise the project's overall success" and collaborative efforts between the Chinese Company and KPHL. Sonk did not respond to requests for comment and has not yet publicly commented on the allegations. In a statement, Marape said the allegations "raise concerns that cannot be ignored". He said the allegations against Sonk, who is not in PNG presently, were not a presumption of guilt. "Mr Sonk is entitled to due process and the opportunity to clear his name," he said. "Stepping down allows him the space to do so without casting a shadow over the franchise process or compromising the confidence of our partners. "This moment demands clarity, accountability, and the upholding of public confidence. Our national sporting future - and our international reputation - depend on it." To help the PNG franchise join the NRL, the Australian government has committed $600m over 10 years. The money will also fund community outreach programs supported by the new club. -ABC
Scoop
4 days ago
- Scoop
Solomon Islands Write History With First OFC Women's Nations Cup Crown
Press Release – Oceania Football Confederation The Solomon Islands have defeated Papua New Guinea 3-2 after extra-time at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, winning the OFC Women's Nations Cup 2025 title, and their very-first continental crown. Thrice the Solomon Islands took the lead, but twice ten-man Papua New Guinea reeled them back in to force the game to extra-time, where substitute Jemina David scored the winner to secure a piece of history. In doing so, the Solomon Islands become the fifth different nation to win the OFC Women's Nations Cup, etching themselves into the record books for eternity. Playing in their first-ever OFC Women's Nations Cup final, the Solomon Islands weren't overawed by the occasion and got off to a hot start under the lights in Suva. Lorina Solosaia had scored the goal when the Solomon Islands held Papua New Guinea to a draw during the OFC Olympic qualifying tournament last year and was the first to have a say in the final. In the 18th minute she latched onto a loose ball through the middle of the pitch, before advancing into the box and rolling a shot into the bottom left corner of the net on her right foot, handing her nation a shock lead. It was almost two goals four minutes later, when Almah Gogoni was played in-behind the Papua New Guinea defence but Lavina Hola came to the rescue with a top save to divert the ball away from the bottom left corner of the net again. Papua New Guinea had played in two finals before, but were clearly rocked after conceding, and struggled to settle into the game. With ten minutes left in the first half, Keren Kalapai came close to springing them into life, smashing the crossbar with a long-range effort on her left foot. The goal came soon after in the 42nd minute, when goal-keeper Zainab Donga spilled a delivery into the box, and Papua New Guinea captain Ramona Padio was on hand to tap the ball into the net from point-blank range to level the game. Still celebrating the goal, it all came crashing down for Papua New Guinea almost straight from the restart though. Defender Merolyne Sali was shown a straight red card for a late tackle on Madeline Arukau on the edge of her own box, from which the Solomons attacker stepped up to convert the direct free kick into the top of the net on her right foot. Papua New Guinea were behind on the scoreboard again, except this time they had a whole second half ahead of them with just ten players on the pitch. Despite the odds, the defending champions still harboured belief and pushed forward in numbers in search of a response. Captain Padio stood up again when needed most to level the final back up, scoring her second goal of the game in the 65th minute with a direct free kick that beat Donga into the top of the net, helped by the crossbar. Locked at two goals apiece, and with the game wide open, extra-time was quick to dawn in Suva – the first time it had ever been required in an OFC Women's Nations Cup final. Finally, Papua New Guinea began to fatigue as the realities of playing with just ten came to fruition though, allowing substitute Jemina David to pounce for the Solomon Islands four minutes into the start of the extra half hour. Played in behind by Ileen Pegi, slotted the ball past Hola to give the Solomons the lead for the third time, and for most importantly, the final time. There was no response from Papua New Guinea on this occasion as weary legs began to get the better of them, and any efforts to get Marie Kaipu involved up top were largely restricted. Instead, the Solomon Islands slowed the game down and managed the remainder of extra-time to seal an historic win, and the nation's greatest ever footballing achievement in the women's game.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Scoop
Solomon Islands Write History With First OFC Women's Nations Cup Crown
Thrice the Solomon Islands took the lead, but twice ten-man Papua New Guinea reeled them back in to force the game to extra-time, where substitute Jemina David scored the winner to secure a piece of history. In doing so, the Solomon Islands become the fifth different nation to win the OFC Women's Nations Cup, etching themselves into the record books for eternity. Playing in their first-ever OFC Women's Nations Cup final, the Solomon Islands weren't overawed by the occasion and got off to a hot start under the lights in Suva. Lorina Solosaia had scored the goal when the Solomon Islands held Papua New Guinea to a draw during the OFC Olympic qualifying tournament last year and was the first to have a say in the final. In the 18th minute she latched onto a loose ball through the middle of the pitch, before advancing into the box and rolling a shot into the bottom left corner of the net on her right foot, handing her nation a shock lead. It was almost two goals four minutes later, when Almah Gogoni was played in-behind the Papua New Guinea defence but Lavina Hola came to the rescue with a top save to divert the ball away from the bottom left corner of the net again. Papua New Guinea had played in two finals before, but were clearly rocked after conceding, and struggled to settle into the game. With ten minutes left in the first half, Keren Kalapai came close to springing them into life, smashing the crossbar with a long-range effort on her left foot. The goal came soon after in the 42nd minute, when goal-keeper Zainab Donga spilled a delivery into the box, and Papua New Guinea captain Ramona Padio was on hand to tap the ball into the net from point-blank range to level the game. Still celebrating the goal, it all came crashing down for Papua New Guinea almost straight from the restart though. Defender Merolyne Sali was shown a straight red card for a late tackle on Madeline Arukau on the edge of her own box, from which the Solomons attacker stepped up to convert the direct free kick into the top of the net on her right foot. Papua New Guinea were behind on the scoreboard again, except this time they had a whole second half ahead of them with just ten players on the pitch. Despite the odds, the defending champions still harboured belief and pushed forward in numbers in search of a response. Captain Padio stood up again when needed most to level the final back up, scoring her second goal of the game in the 65th minute with a direct free kick that beat Donga into the top of the net, helped by the crossbar. Locked at two goals apiece, and with the game wide open, extra-time was quick to dawn in Suva - the first time it had ever been required in an OFC Women's Nations Cup final. Finally, Papua New Guinea began to fatigue as the realities of playing with just ten came to fruition though, allowing substitute Jemina David to pounce for the Solomon Islands four minutes into the start of the extra half hour. Played in behind by Ileen Pegi, slotted the ball past Hola to give the Solomons the lead for the third time, and for most importantly, the final time. There was no response from Papua New Guinea on this occasion as weary legs began to get the better of them, and any efforts to get Marie Kaipu involved up top were largely restricted. Instead, the Solomon Islands slowed the game down and managed the remainder of extra-time to seal an historic win, and the nation's greatest ever footballing achievement in the women's game.
