Tonga kept their dream of making London 2012 alive with a 6-1 disposal of Samoa while Papua New Guinea hardly had to break sweat despite the stifling heat in sweeping aside Vanuatu 11-1.
Matches between Samoa and Tonga, traditionally great sporting rivals, are always keenly contested in any code and the expectations were for a hard-fought, close encounter. But Tonga had clearly not read the script and put on a scintillating exhibition of attacking football in the first spell to go 6-1 ahead and leave Samoa with no chance of getting back into the match.
They will now face Papua New Guinea in Wednesday’s final and coach Lui Muavesi is pleased with the efforts of his players in getting to this point.
“I thought we would have a hard game against Samoa but thankfully the girls stuck to our game plan,” he said. “We have been playing at 1pm all week which I think proved an advantage for us because we have gotten used to the sun. Both of Samoa’s games have been later in the afternoon when it is a bit cooler. So our plan was to play hard in the first half and make the most of it.”
Most of the damage was done by sharp-shooting striker Piuingi Feke, who notched a hat-trick on the opening day and has impressed throughout with her intelligent movement and ability on the ball. A spectacular Laite Si’i Manu strike had given the hosts the lead in just the fourth minute and any hopes Samoa had of squaring the ledger were dashed by Feke in a remarkable passage of play from the half hour mark.
Feke picked the ball up on the right-hand side of the Samoan penalty box before finding the far corner of Marielene Papalii’s goal for her first and had her second hat-trick of the tournament only four minutes later, getting the better of Papalli twice in one-on-one situations to leave Samoa, who had to win this match to make the final, reeling.
But, despite Tonga’s total domination at this stage, the next time the ball was picked out of the net it was at the other end, Samoa striker Hazel Peleti bursting forward and prodding home past veteran custodian Lupe Likiliki to give her country a slither of hope at 4-1. The goal proved a double-edged sword for Samoa coach Tala Salamasina though as Peleti, who struck a hat-trick in Samoa’s thrilling 4-3 victory over Vanuatu, was injured in the process of scoring and had to be stretchered off the field.
Peleti remained off the pitch for the next ten minutes being assessed by Samoa’s medical staff and her absence proved costly for Salamasina, who watched his one-woman down side concede a further two goals – to Feke again and strike partner Kiana Mu’amoholeva – to go into the sheds 6-1 behind.
An extraordinary comeback was always unlikely from there, particularly without main attacking weapon Peleti who was not fit enough to continue, although Samoa did put in a improved showing in the second half to keep Tonga goalless. The most notable moment of the second period occurred when the players’ passions spilled over shortly after half-time, Tongan goalscorer Si’i Manu and Samoa’s Henifa Bryce both receiving their marching orders from Solomon Islands referee Nelson Sogo after a skirmish.
Salamasina was disappointed to miss out on making the final but says his side will be desperate to defeat Vanuatu in the 3rd/4th play-off on Wednesday and avoid the wooden spoon.
“Tonga were a better team on the day and they controlled the ball well,” he said. “They pushed forward from the start to get those early goals and the spirit of our girls went down from there. It’s very important that we go on to finish third now.”
There were also plenty of goals in the afternoon’s second game, Papua New Guinea showing just why they are so highly rated in breaking the double-figure barrier against Vanuatu. Inspirational captain Deslyne Siniu led the way with a four-goal haul while Georgina Kaikas, in her first start of the tournament, and Daisy Winas both scored doubles. Esther Muta, Barbra Muta and Fatima Rama also got on the scoresheet in the rout and the only interruption to the one-way traffic was provided by Junane Ishmael, who got Vanuatu on the board just before half-time to make it 3-1 at the break.
“We were working to polish up on our finishing and it paid off so I’m really pleased,” Papua New Guinea coach Steven Mune said. “Some of our key players were rested and it was good to see others putting their hands up for a starting place in the final. We tried out a 3-4-3 formation which can be risky at the back but we covered well there so it worked out.”
Vanuatu coach Florian Sam could do little but give credit to Papua New Guinea but did point out that the absence of first choice goalkeeper Olivia David didn’t make things any easier.
“Papua New Guinea played really well but our No 1 goalkeeper has an injury so it was always going to be tough,” he said. “We have to take lessons from these matches and try to improve for the next competition.”
Samoa vs. Tonga Match Summary: Download Here
Vanuatu vs. Papua New Guinea Match Summary: Download Here
Competition Summary: Download Here
For the match schedule click here

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