A decisive day is looming at Rarotonga’s CIFA Academy with another triple-header scheduled for Monday’s Match Day 3 at OFC U-19 Women’s Championship 2019.
Group C leaders New Caledonia will face a Tongan side eager to finally kick off their campaign following a bye on Match Day 1, before Group A takes centre stage with a do-or-die battle between Vanuatu and Solomon Islands, followed by Cook Islands’ highly anticipated top-of-the table clash against Fiji.
With only three teams in Group C, another win for New Caledonia would guarantee them a spot in the semi-finals and on the back of their performance over Papua New Guinea, Les Cagous will fancy their chances against Tonga in the day’s opener at 10am.
Blessed with an impressive attacking combination between Cassidy Cawa and Jennifer Neporo, the New Caledonians looked irresistible going forward and well organised at the back to score eight unanswered goals in their opening match against their Melanesian rivals, and coach Coralie Breitegnier will be hoping for much of the same when they face Tonga.
“It was very important to start with a win and we are happy. Our main objective is to win every game and we prepare for every game the same way,” she said after the match.
Despite their dominant performance Breitegnier is adamant her team will need a slight adjustment before facing Tonga.
“We don’t know a lot about Tonga and we will focus on ourselves, but we will have to make some small tactical changes,” added the New Caledonia coach.
One of the first teams to arrive in the Cook Island on the 24 August, the Tongans have spent the past week to get used to the local conditions and fine tune their preparations ahead of their opening match against New Caledonia.
Following the long wait, Lafaele Moala admits his side is itching to get on the pitch at the CIFA Academy.
“Our team is ready and we are feeling confident especially after spending another ten days at the Pacific Games,” the Tonga coach said.
“We still have some room for improvement but everything is going well and our players can’t wait for the first game.
As part of their preparations the Tongans have recently faced a Junior Australian side, and despite a 6-0 defeat to the young Matildas, the coach is confident the friendly match provided his side with valuable lessons and experience.
“We have been working on our weaknesses from the match against the Australian U-16 team, and I know for sure the girls will do their best,”
The senior women’s teams of Tonga and New Caledonia have met in July at the Pacific Games in Samoa with the Tongans edging past Les Cagous 3-2, and with a number of his U-19 players involved in that victory, Moala is hoping for a similar outcome on Monday.
“Most of the girls played against New Caledonia at the SPG and they won, and I trust the girls the to make it and get to the next round,” the Tonga coach said.
Meanwhile in Group A, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands face a must-win duel in in order to keep their Championship hopes alive in the day’s second fixture.
Vanuatu coach Jean Robert Yelou will be hoping his players can mentally recover from a heart-breaking last minute defeat to the Cook Islands, and he is expecting a stern challenge from their Solomon Islands rivals.
“We expect a lot of things will happen, they will not be easy for us, but we will do our best to get the three points, it’s a must win, we need to win otherwise we have no chance to advance,” he insisted.
“I’m still confident we can come up with a win, if the girls use what they have learned on the training ground and if they keep fighting and maintain their strong mentality and fighting spirit,” explained Yelou.
His Solomon Islands counterpart, Patrick Miniti is also preparing for a tough encounter and he admits his players must improve following their first outing which ended in a 3-1 defeat to Fiji.
“We need to step up in our second game, it’s something we have to work on despite the very little time between matches,” the Solomon Islands coach said.
“Vanuatu is s similar side to us, like us they are a running team, they also have a bit of power so we will need to contain them, we have to get ourselves organised and we have to try to maintain our structure that’s our biggest inconsistency at the moment. We need to keep our shape and play the best we can,” Miniti explained.
Local hopefuls will be full of anticipation when Cook Islands face a well organised, physical and technically gifted Fijian outfit in the third and final match of the day.
Despite dominating most of their opening encounter against Vanuatu, Tuka Tisam’s charges left it to the dying minutes to secure a vital victory, and the coach knows his players will need to be more clinical against Fiji.
A win for either side will go a long way to secure Group A supremacy and Tisam is urging his troops to rise to the challenge.
“I saw their match and they are a very good side, they are very physical, they can create a lot of chances in front of goal so and we are looking forward to taking them on in a good match,” said the Cook Islands coach.
“This will be a very difficult task for us, and we have to come up with a plan against Fiji,” the Cook Islands coach said.
Fiji coach Sunil Kumar was delighted with his side’s impressive 3-1 victory over the Solomon Islands, but he is also keenly aware of the importance of maintaining their momentum, by backing up with an equally strong performance.
According to the coach his side will need plenty of improvement, especially in front of goal if they want a similar outcome against the local favourites.
“We have some weaknesses, the girls were guilty of wasting a number of opportunities and we have to work on our finishing,” he said.
“At times we also lost our structure when we were defending so we have to improve in both areas. It’s always tough against the hosts, we expect them to be tough and it will be a tough game for us,” added the Fiji coach.
Additional Information
New Caledonia vs Tonga
Monday 2 September (Tuesday 3 August NZ time)
CIFA Academy
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
KO: 10:00
#OFCU19W #NCLTGA
Click on link for the live stream
Match Officials
Referee: Shama MAEMAE (SOL)
Assistant Referee 1: Natalia LUMUKANA (SOL)
Assistant Referee 2: Joana OLOGA (SOL)
Fourth Official: Nadia BROWNING (NZL)
NEW CALEDONIA – 1. Brigitte WADRA (GK), 2. Jaelle SINYEUE, 3. Oceane ZASINA, 4. Edsy MATAO, 5. Melissa IEKAWE, 6. Justine MALAXAN, 7. Jackie PAHOA, 8. Chloe UFEPI, 9. Jennifer NEPORO, 10. Lucinda KOINDREDI, 11. Joana BOULA, 12. Ashley GELIMA, 13. Marthe KATRAWA, 14. Mauranne MEINDU, 15. Shamany NAAOUTCHOUE, 16. Clarisse WAHNAPO (GK), 17. Salomee POMA, 18. Laetitia LEME, 19. Cassidy CAWA
Head Coach: Coralie BRETEGNIER (New Caledonia)
TONGA – 1. Kalolaine TOPUI (GK), 2. Meleseini TUFUI, 3. Lupe VAEA, 4. Kalo TALIAULI, 5. Litea TAUKAPO, 6. Losa TUAPAUU, 7. Losa TUAPAUU, 8. Florence HAKALO, 9. Lositika FEKE, 10. Ana POLOVILI, 11. Mele KAFA, 12. Mafi PASIKALA, 13. Siunipa TALASINGA, 14. Kalolaine TONGA, 15. Ana LAUTEAU, 16. Finehika FINAU, 17. Mele AKOLO, 18. Carollyne FOTU (GK)
Head Coach: Lafaele MOALA (Tonga)
Vanuatu vs. Solomon Islands
Monday 2 September (Tuesday 3 August NZ time)
CIFA Academy
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
KO: 13:00
#OFCU19W #VANSOL
Click on link for the live stream
Match Officials
Referee: Anne TUAEFE (TGA)
Assistant Referee 1: Ilisapeti MALKAMU (TGA)
Assistant Referee 2: Heloise SIMONS (NZL)
Fourth Official: Rani PERRY (TAH)
VANUATU – 1. Cloe TATE (GK), 2. Dannie WANEMUT, 3. Tiffany SOPE, 4. Limas ERICKAN, 5. Noeline ERICKAN, 6. Selena POIDA, 7. Rita SOLOMON, 8. Matilda KALKAU, 9. Bindy ERICKAN, 10. Annie GERE, 11. Anais KALOPONG, 12. Cynthia NGWELE, 13. Suzanne NAWEN, 14. Melanie TIMATUA, 15. Emma WANEMUT, 16. Nettie KALSAU, 17. Vaina ALPHONSE, 18. Daina SINE, 19. Celestine KALOPPONG, 20. Amelia REDY (GK)
Head Coach: Jean Robert YELOU (Vanuatu)
SOL – 1. Serah ALPEFOLOCIA (GK), 2. Edith NARI, 3. Debra KALI, 4. Sandra WALE, 5. Magaret SAMANI, 6. Cecilia OMEARO, 7. Madeline ARUKAU, 8. Cathy FO’OSIMAE, 9. Dollin USUA, 10. Dealyn KALI, 11. Jojo LEDI, 12. Florence INCE (GK), 13. Indy RINGO, 14. Mavis WALE, 15. Rose ARATA, 16. Sharoly SAENI, 17. Rachel REX, 18. Alisha DONGA, 19. Mercy WATEOBEA, 20. Melissah MAREI
Head Coach: Patrick MINITI (Solomon Islands)
Cook Islands vs FIJ
Monday 2 September (Tuesday 3 August NZ time)
CIFA Academy
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
KO: 16:00
#OFCU19W #COKFIJ
Click on link for the live stream
Match Officials
Referee: Roger ADAMS (PNG)
Assistant Referee 1: Telesia TEISINA (TGA)
Assistant Referee 2: Vaihina TEURA (TAH)
Fourth Official: Lindsey ROBINSON (ENG)
COOK ISLANDS – 1. Daimzel RONGOKEA (GK), 2. Merran MUNRO, 3. Teretia TEINAKI, 4. Esther POTORU, 5. Tiamarama TUIVAGA, 6. Tehinnah TATUAVA, 7. Piri MURARE, 8. Jessica WARMINGTON, 9. Kura MOSE, 10. Ngametua TARINGA, 11. Moeroa HARMON, 12. Ngamata MOEKAA, 13. Tarita MAMANU, 14. Eitiare TANGIRERE, 15. Lyric DAVISON, 16. Keana MAAKA, 17. Tepaeru NGAROI, 18. Tineke DE JONG, 20. Alma NGAMETUA
Head Coach: Tuka TISAM (Cook Islands)
FIJ – 1. Maria PARR (GK), 2. Lusiana LAGILEVU, 3. Ledua SENISEA, 4. Amelia CEVARIKI, 5. Laniana QEREQERETABUA, 6. Vitalina NAIKORE, 7. Koleta LIKUCULACULA, 8. Aliza HUSSEIN, 9. Asenaca DIRANUVE, 10. Asilika GASAU, 11. Emily ROKOCIRI, 12. Louisa SIMMONS, 13. Kelera RADINICAL, 14. Adi Anasimeci VOLITIKORO, 15. Losana BAINIVALU, 16. Dilaisana DRODROLAGI, 17. Unaisi RALUMU, 18. Fulori SUKULU, 19. Viniana BUKE, 20. Seru VASUITOGA (GK)
Head Coach: Sunil KUMAR (Fiji)
Ends