Cook Islands won their first match of the XIII South Pacific Games – Samoa 2007 after accounting for fellow minnows Tuvalu 4-1 at Toleafoa J.S.Blatter Football Fields in Apia
today. Cook Islands coach Tim Jerks – himself a former coach of Tuvalu – had predicted an open and even match and that is exactly what transpired as both teams decided to open up and play
for a victory rather than adopting a defensive strategy.
Teariki Mateariki opened the scoring on 28 minutes after he looped a header over Tuvalu goalkeeper Jay Timo after getting on the end of a Paul Luiz Van Eijk cross. The goal galvanised Cook
Islands into further action with Thomas Le Mouton going close just two minutes later when the New Zealand-based wide midfielder struck a rasping volley over the bar from just outside the 18 yard
box.
Cook Islands created a further couple of chances towards the end of the first half with Tuvalu also going close. Tuvalu’s next best chance came with skipper Petio Semaia rocketed in a free
kick that thudded into the torso of Tony Jamieson who clung on to the stinging shot tightly.
Teariki Mateariki settled Cook Islands nerves when he combined with Van Eijk to make it 2-0 after he got the final touch on a Van Eijk corner after 69 minutes. Cruising at 2-0 Cook Islands
were shaken out of their complacency when Steve Willis headed the ball into his own net after 83 minutes to make it 2-1.
Nerves must’ve been jangling for Cook Islands coach Tim Jerks but his fears were allayed when Le Mouton broke into the Tuvalu penalty area and scored with a rasping drive from 15
yards out on 88 minutes before Kunda Tom scored a wonderful volley 3 minutes into stoppage time to make it 4-1 with a strike likely to be nominated for goal of the tournament.
Cook Islands final match is against Tahiti on Monday 3 September 1500hrs GMT-13.
Tuvalu depart the XIII South Pacific Games – Samoa 2007 with their heads held high after two good performances against Tahiti (1-1) and New Caledonia (0-1) the only black mark against them
their 16-0 drubbing at the hands of Fiji.
LIVE UPDATES:
0′ – a cooling breeze has picked up across the ground as this definitive fixture kicks off
3′ – Cook Islands seem to dominate territory in the early stages, with possession reasonably even
9′ – Cook Islands force the first corner of the match, which is cleared by Tuvalu
11′ – Miitamariki Joseph covers well to clear a Tuvalu counter attack
16′ – Joseph intervenes well again as a Lolesi Vaia through ball causes a threat to the stretched Cook Island defence
19′ – Nathan Tisam hits an angular drive from deep on the right, but Tuvalu ‘keeper Jay Timo manages it well
23′ – Thomas Le Mouton puts the ball in the Tuvalu net, but the goal is disallowed for offside
28′ – GOAL!
13. Teariki MATEARIKI meets a Paul Luiz van Eijk cross with his head for the ball to loop over Timo and into the net
30′ – John Michael Quijano heads down a van Eijk corner for le Mouton to volley over from the top of the 18 yard box
32′ – Mati Fusi blasts a free kick into the Cook Island wall from an advantageous position, for Steven Willis to clear
35′ – Tisam is looking to catch Temo off his line, shooting at will from distance
36′ – Tapeni Letueti fires a shot across goal from the angle
37′ – Cook Islands look to have stepped up their intensity heading into half time, with Willis and Joseph controlling well at the back
38′ – Willis juggles impressively from defense for Tisam to put le Mouton through, but the ball runs for a goal kick
40′ – Fusi beats Willis with an impressive move, but his cross is cleared well by van Eijk
40′ – Willis makes up for his previous indiscretion by rising well to clear Fusi’s corner kick
— 1 minute added time —
HALF TIME: COK 1 TUV 0
46′ – Cook Islands start with a van Eijk free kick from a narrow angle that finds Miitamariki Joseph to blast over goal
47′ – 6. Steven Willis receives a yellow card for a foul on a Tuvalu player
48′ – Imo Fiamalua catches John Michael Quijano awkwardly, and Quijano leaves the field for treatment
50′ – Penisula covers well to put a stop to a quick Cook Islands break down the right
53′ – 14. John Michael QUIJANO succumbs to a shoulder injury, and is replaced by 9. Kunda TOM
56′ – Jay Temo reacts well to a deflection off his own defender following a van Eijk corner
57′ – down the opposite end, Jamieson acts quickly to collect a Tuvalu cross down low
59′ – Petio Semaia fires a free kick from the right corner of the 18 yard box directly at Jamieson, who holds
62′ – 7. Adrian SHEPHERD makes way for 4. John PAREANGA
63′ – Semaia replicates his actions from the previous free kick, again with no result
65′ – Tuvalu looks to be gaining momentum, with sustained periods in Cook Island’s defensive third
68′ – Temo comes a long way out of his goal to blast a Cook Islands through ball for a throw in, from which a corner eventuates
69′ – GOAL!
13. Teariki MATEARIKI gets the final touch on a van Eijk corner for his second goal of the day
69′ – 9. Mati FUSI is replaced by 20. Viliamu SEKIFU
72′ – Sekifu fouls Pareanga, who heads to the sideline for treatment
75′ – 7. Papua ULISESE takes the field for 5. Lolesi VAIA
78′ – 14. Paeniu FAGOTA receives a yellow card for a foul on the already injured Pareanga
78′ – 4. John PAREANGA is substituted by 3. Edward BROGAN
81′ – 13. Fulisagafou HAUMA makes way for 10. Semese ALEFAIO
83′- GOAL!
6. Steven Willis unfortunately heads into his own net! It’s a goal for Tuvalu!
88′ – GOAL!
8. Thomas LE MOUTON drives into the area and slams home a left footed drive to Temo’s near post from 15 yards on the angle
— 3 minutes added time —
90+3 – GOAL!
9. Kunda TOM strikes a superb falling volley after a cross from the left in a contender for goal of the tournament
FULL TIME: COK 4 TUV 1
MATCH PHOTOS:
XIII SOUTH PACIFIC GAMES – SAMOA 2007
Men’s Group A
Match Day 4 – 1230 – 1 September 2007
Toleafoa J.S. Blatter Football Fields – Apia – Samoa
COOK ISLANDS: 1. Tony JAMIESON [gk]; 2. Paul Luiz VAN EIJK; 5. Miitamariki JOSEPH; 6. Steven WILLIS; 7. Adrian SHEPHERD (4. John PAREANGA 62′ (3. Edward BROGAN
78′)); 8. Thomas LE MOUTON; 10. Eugiene TATUAVA; 13. Teariki MATEARIKI; 14. John Michael QUIJANO (9. Kunda TOM 53′); 15. Paavo MUSTONEN; 17. Augusty BARTILLARD.
Coach: Tim JERKS
Substitutes not used: 11. Edward DROLLET; 12. Anonga TISAM; 16. Daniel SHEPHERD; 18. Nathan TISAM; 20. Remi WEARING [gk]; –. Jimmy KATOA [gk].
Injured:
Suspended:
Not available:
Cautions: 6. Steven WILLIS (47′).
Red cards:
Goal scorers: 13. Teariki MATEARIKI (28′, 69′); 8. Thomas LE MOUTON (88′); 9. Kunda TOM (90’+3).
TUVALU: 4. Mau PENISULA; 5. Lolesi VAIA (7. Papua ULISESE 75′); 6. Paitela KELEMENE; 8. Petio SEMAIA [c]; 9. Mati FUSI (20. Viliamu SEKIFU 69′); 13. Fulisagafou
HAUMA (10. Semese ALEFAIO (81′); 14. Peniuna KAITU; 15. Jelly SELAU; 16. Imo FIAMALUA; 18. Tapeni LETUETI; 19. Jay TIMO [gk].
Coach: Toakai PUAPUA
Substitutes not used: 1. Moresi VALOAGA [gk]; 2. Polu TANEI; 3. Onosemu NEEMIA; 11. Paeniu FAGOTA; 12. Loisio PENI; 17. Hetoa KAIO; 22. Pelesia TEISINI.
Injured:
Suspended:
Not available:
Cautions: 14. Peniua KAITU 73′.
Red cards:
Goal scorers: (own goal 83′)
Referee: Michael HESTER (NZL)
Assistant Referee: Tevita MAKASINI (TON)
Assistant Referee: Rodney ALLEN (AUS)
Fourth Official: Chris LENGATA (SOL)