Fiji ruled the roost at the XIII South Pacific Games as both the men’s and women’s teams took top spot in their respective sections at J.S.Blatter Football Field in Apia, Samoa
today.
The men’s team put Tahiti to the sword 4-0 in clinical fashion to set up a final day showdown for group supremacy against New Caledonia. Osea Vakatalesau hit two, Pita Baleitoga one, and
Taniela Waqa a superb free kick to ensure Fiji stayed top of Group A with a 100% record.
The women’s team enjoyed a victory of epic proportions when they defeated gold medal favourites Papua New Guinea 1-0 thanks to a goal from Kinisimere Vanua after 40 minutes. The win throws
the gold medal question wide open in the women’s football tournament.
Solomon Islands women’s team kept pace with the front runners after they defeated American Samoa 3-0 thanks to goals from Margaret Daudau, Diane Justus and Crystal
Annie.
Elsewhere in the women’s competition, Tonga and Tahiti played out a 0-0 draw in Group B to share the two semi-final berths going into the final round next week in a dour and physical
encounter where yellow cards were the order of the day.
Also in Group B, Samoa women’s team toughed out a 2-0 win over New Caledonia after losing Suitupe Tafafa to a red card after just half an hour of their match under lights. Goals to Natalie
Brown and Semeatu Lemana were enough to guide the host nation to victory with a vociferous home support behind them.
In the men’s competition, Group A light weights Cook Islands and Tuvalu fought out an intriguing contest with Teariki Miiteariki scoring twice for his country before Steven Willis headed into
his net in the 83rd minute to make it 2-1 to Cook Islands. Late goals from Thomas Le Mouton and Kunda Tom settled Cook Islands nerves as Tim Jerks team moved up into third place needing
just a draw against struggling Tahiti to remain there after this 4-1 win.
In Group B, Solomon Islands won the battle for top spot after a convincing 2-0 win over Vanuatu. Godwin Bebeu scored with an extravagant back heel after 60 minutes when Commins Menapi cut a
ball back that Bebeu had appeared to over run before he cheekily deceived Chikau Mansale in the Vanuatu goal with his sublime piece of trickery. Henry Fa’arodo added a second just four minutes
later to complete a fine day at the office for Airton Andrioli and his team.
Tonga defeated American Samoa 4-0 to complete a miserable tournament for the team from Pago Pago with two goals to Pio Palu, Lafaele Moala and Kaisani Uhatahi completing a
reasonable day for coach Kilifi Uele. The next round of fixtures for both men’s and women’s competitions as follows:
MONDAY 3rd SEPTEMBER, 2007
All GMT-13
1000hrs Cook Islands v Papua New Guinea Women
1000hrs Solomon Islands v
Fiji Women
1800hrs New Caledonia v
Tahiti Women
2030hrs Tonga v
Samoa Women
1230hrs Samoa v Solomon
Islands Men
1230hrs Tonga v
Vanuatu
Men
1500hrs New Caledonia v
Fiji
Men
1500hrs Cook Islands v
Tahiti
Men
FULL DETAILS OF XIII SOUTH PACIFIC GAMES CAN BE READ AT: