GOALS GALORE AS LAUTOKA BIDS FAREWELL

LAUTOKA – New Zealand assured itself of top spot at the OFC Men’s Olympic Football Tournament with a comfortable 8-0 win over Cook Islands and ensured a double Olympic swoop after the Football Ferns defeated Papua New Guinea in the OFC Women’s Olympic Football Play-Off in Port Moresby yesterday.

The Oly-Whites cruised to an expected victory over Cook Islands but uncertainty exists over whether New Zealand Olympic Committee will ratify the team’s nomination as OFC’s representative at the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing.

Phil Edginton, Jeremy Brockie, Jason Hayne (2), Sam Messam, Daniel Ellensohn and Aaron Scott were the goalscorers in what was a formality for the Stu Jacobs coached team.

With New Zealand’s future uncertain there was added pressure on both Fiji and Solomon Islands in the race to seal second spot.

Fiji looked to be doing it easily when it found itself 2-0 up inside the first 25 minutes thanks to goals by Roy Krishna and Maciu Dunadamu. But Solomon Islands staged an astonishing comeback with three goals inside 14 hectic minutes inspired by a Joachim Waroi brace and a candidate for goal of the tournament by Michael Fifi.

Solomon Islands tried to throw away its advantage when Joachim Rande was sent off for a poor tackle on Krishna Samy on the stroke of half-time. Fiji’s Shameel Rao joined Rande when he sent off with just seven minutes remaining.

When Fiji captain Malakai Tiwa left the pitch injured the host nation’s hopes seemed to disappear with him.

There were plenty of goals as expected in Papua New Guinea’s match against Vanuatu. George Cowie’s team has become famous at these championships of playing attractive attacking football at the expense of defending.

Today was no exception. Papua New Guinea were 3-0 up inside the first 20 minutes after Samuel Kini, Tau Winnie and David Muta helped themselves to goals thanks to generous defending by Vanuatu.

Vanuatu replied with a goal to Michel Kaltak and the recalled Fenedy Masauvakalo. Kaltak’s joy was short-lived after he was red carded ten minutes into the second half for a reckless challenge on David Muta.

Tau Winnie completed a hat-trick in the second half with Raymond Gunemba and Koriak Upaiga completing the scoring in a 7-2 win thus capping a memorable finish to the tournament.

OFC MENS OLYMPIC FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

FINAL STANDINGS

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