Latest news with #Padio
Scoop
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Papua New Guinea Defeat Fiji And Will Chase Back To Back Titles In Suva
Press Release – Oceania Football Confederation The return of midfield maestro Ramona Padio, absent during last months friendlies between the sides in Port Moresby, proved influential. Papua New Guinea are one win away from defending their OFC Women's Nations Cup title, following a hard-fought 2-1 victory over hosts Fiji in a gripping semi-final at HFC Stadium in Suva. Ericson Komeng's side enjoyed long spells of dominance and showed their cohesion, with seven players from Hekari United Women's FC featuring in the starting XI. Marie Kaipu posed a constant threat up front, supported by Michaelyne Butubu and Keren Kalapai. Fiji, in contrast, looked to exploit the pace of Narieta Leba on the counter. The return of midfield maestro Ramona Padio, absent during last month's friendlies between the sides in Port Moresby, proved influential. In the 26th minute, her pinpoint cross was headed home by Kalapai to open the scoring. Padio nearly doubled the lead four minutes later, denied only by a superb near-post save from 18-year-old Fiji goalkeeper Emily Esposito. But Padio didn't have to wait long to get on the scoresheet, just three minutes later, she unleashed a powerful 30-metre effort that bounced awkwardly in front of Esposito, who couldn't keep it out. Fiji hit back immediately. Straight from the restart, a long ball released Leba, who regained her footing after stumbling and rifled a right-footed strike past Lavinia Hola to halve the deficit. Chances followed either side of the break for Fiji as they desperately sought an equaliser. Leba squared a dangerous ball across goal for Trina Davis, who couldn't connect with the net beckoning. Moments into the second half, Cema Nasau, quiet in the first half, forced a brilliant save from Hola at close range. Fiji coach Angeline Chua made a bold call at halftime, replacing Davis with 14-year-old Adi Reva, but PNG's experience and control shone through. They lifted their intensity, dictated the tempo, and saw out the match with composure. Captain Maria Veronika cleared off the line for Fiji with 20 minutes remaining, and on attack Fiji threw everything at the PNG defence in the final minutes but couldn't find the magic touch needed to draw level and force extra time. It's heartbreak for Fiji—once again falling 2-1 to PNG, just as in the 2022 final. The hosts will now turn their focus to Saturday's third-place playoff, while Papua New Guinea await either Solomon Islands or Samoa in the final. PAPUA NEW GUINEA 2 (Keren KALAPAI 26' Ramona PADIO 33')
Scoop
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Papua New Guinea Defeat Fiji And Will Chase Back To Back Titles In Suva
Papua New Guinea are one win away from defending their OFC Women's Nations Cup title, following a hard-fought 2-1 victory over hosts Fiji in a gripping semi-final at HFC Stadium in Suva. Ericson Komeng's side enjoyed long spells of dominance and showed their cohesion, with seven players from Hekari United Women's FC featuring in the starting XI. Marie Kaipu posed a constant threat up front, supported by Michaelyne Butubu and Keren Kalapai. Fiji, in contrast, looked to exploit the pace of Narieta Leba on the counter. The return of midfield maestro Ramona Padio, absent during last month's friendlies between the sides in Port Moresby, proved influential. In the 26th minute, her pinpoint cross was headed home by Kalapai to open the scoring. Padio nearly doubled the lead four minutes later, denied only by a superb near-post save from 18-year-old Fiji goalkeeper Emily Esposito. But Padio didn't have to wait long to get on the scoresheet, just three minutes later, she unleashed a powerful 30-metre effort that bounced awkwardly in front of Esposito, who couldn't keep it out. Fiji hit back immediately. Straight from the restart, a long ball released Leba, who regained her footing after stumbling and rifled a right-footed strike past Lavinia Hola to halve the deficit. Chances followed either side of the break for Fiji as they desperately sought an equaliser. Leba squared a dangerous ball across goal for Trina Davis, who couldn't connect with the net beckoning. Moments into the second half, Cema Nasau, quiet in the first half, forced a brilliant save from Hola at close range. Fiji coach Angeline Chua made a bold call at halftime, replacing Davis with 14-year-old Adi Reva, but PNG's experience and control shone through. They lifted their intensity, dictated the tempo, and saw out the match with composure. Captain Maria Veronika cleared off the line for Fiji with 20 minutes remaining, and on attack Fiji threw everything at the PNG defence in the final minutes but couldn't find the magic touch needed to draw level and force extra time. It's heartbreak for Fiji—once again falling 2-1 to PNG, just as in the 2022 final. The hosts will now turn their focus to Saturday's third-place playoff, while Papua New Guinea await either Solomon Islands or Samoa in the final. PAPUA NEW GUINEA 2 (Keren KALAPAI 26' Ramona PADIO 33') HT 2-1
Scoop
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Papua New Guinea Top Group A With Demolition Of Cook Islands
With the return of Marie Kaipu to the starting XI and the focal point to their attack restored, the reigning OFC Women's Nations Cup champions would have been keen to end the group stage with a statement performance against the Cook Islands. It perhaps shouldn't have come as a surprise to see Kaipu and captain Ramona Padio at the heart of PNG taking an early lead. Padio crossed to Kaipu in the box, and the number nine shot at Courtney Napa who couldn't hold it. Michaelyne Butubu was on hand to head the rebound into the Cook Islands net. Kaipu doubled the lead five minutes later with a typically composed finish after being played in by Padio and outpacing her marking centreback. Phylis Pala added a third with a low drilled shot from distance, and a minute later Keren Kalapai got her name on the scoresheet with a sharp turn and finish. Kaipu netted a second brilliant goal just after the half hour mark, using her pace to intercept the ball before it got to an outstretched diving Cook Islands goalkeeper Courtney Napa, and showing some precise footwork to keep the ball in play before picking her spot in the net. She got her hat trick in the 39th minute, rewarded for pressing Napa with the ricochet nestling in the bottom corner. PNG picked up where they left off in the second half, setting up camp in the Cook Islands' half. Padio got her name on the scoresheet next with a driven shot from outside the penalty area, the ball crashing over the line off the crossbar just before the hour mark. Kalapai got her second goal of the game in the 70th minute, taking advantage of a mistake from Napa to complete her brace. Papua New Guinea's win sees them through to the semi-finals top of Group A, and they will play the Group B runners up.
