SUVA: The South Pacific Games football tournament has already sprung up some surprises in both men’s and women’s divisions. At the end of day three, both divisions have completed two rounds of action with several teams jockeying for the top spot as the business end to the pool fixtures starts this afternoon with the men’s third round kicking off.

In the men’s tournament, New Caledonia has made their intentions crystal clear with two dominant performances back-to-back. The Serge Martinengo De Novack led team looks well prepared and fit and were comprehensive winners over Papua New Guinea 2-0 in the first round and even more so against the Federated States of Micronesia with an emphatic 18-0 victory after resting the majority of its first choice players. Not surprisingly, they lead Pool B but face a tough challenge from the feisty Tongans who drew 2-2 with PNG in its last match, coming close to causing the tournament’s first real upset.

Defending champions Tahiti is close behind in second place in Pool B after drawing the bye in the first round then thrashing FSM 17-0 in round two. A showdown with New Caledonia looks imminent and will be one of the most hotly anticipated matches of the Games.

While Pool B has yielded surprises aplenty, there were no surprises in Pool A. As expected a tough tussle exists between the three leading contenders, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Fiji currently leads with a win and a draw, but have largely been unimpressive and a big improvement is on the cards before they face the Solomon Islands in the final round next Monday, in what many believe will decide who will advance to the semis.

Fiji slugged out a nil all draw with Melanesian rivals Vanuatu in the first round. Chances went begging on both sides, but Fiji had the better chances in the second half but was unable to capitalise. Tuvalu proved to be worthy opponents for the hosts in the second round keeping the Fijians scoreless in the second half to lose 0-4. The good news was Esala Masi’s two goals. Vanuatu missed a chance to score a crucial win over the Solomon Islands but ended up its second drawn result in round two which means their semi-final hopes now hang in the balance on future results. Vanuatu led 2-0 in the second half but Commins Menapi’s two goals after the break saved the day for the Solomon Islands.

Tuvalu has also thrown more uncertainty into the formula after beating Kiribati 3-2 in the first round. They showed character coming back from being down to win that contest then put up a valiant display against the Fijians when it looked early on like the floodgates would be opened.

In the women’s tournament, Papua New Guinea is out in front with two consecutive wins. PNG were far too good for Kiribati winning by a convincing margin, 13-0, but were taken to the wire yesterday by hosts Fiji before winning narrowly 2-1. Guam and Tonga share second place with a win and a draw each. Guam beat Fiji in the first round 1-0 while Tonga enjoyed a 3-2 win over Vanuatu. Guam and Tonga faced off last night with a scoreless draw the result. Tahiti played its first game last night after sitting out the first round and won easily by 3-0 over Vanuatu.

In the goal scoring stakes, Deslyn Siniu of PNG women’s team is the overall leader in the tournament with seven strikes to her name. The best of the men thus far is New Caledonia’s Paul Poatinda with his six goals scored against FSM.

Latest Results – Day Three, Wednesday 2 July 2003

Women’s Division (at Ratu Cakobau Park )

Tonga vs Guam 0-0

Vanuatu vs Tahiti 0-3 (0-1)

Fiji vs PNG 1-2 (HT 1-2)

Today’s matches (Day four)

Men (round three fixtures)

1:00pm – Solomon Islands vs Kiribati (Pool A)

3:00pm – Tuvalu vs Vanuatu (Pool A)

5:00pm – Tonga vs New Caledonia (Pool B)

7:00pm – Tahiti vs Papua New Guinea (Pool B)

* all kick-off times are local in Fiji

PROGRESSIVE LADDERS
Men's tournament
Points Table after round two
Men (Pool A)
Teams P W D L PF PA Diff Pts
Fiji 2 1 1 0 4 0 +4 4
Tuvalu 2 1 0 1 3 6 -3 3
Vanuatu 2 0 2 0 2 2 0 2
Solomon Islands 1 0 1 0 2 2 0 1
Kiribati 1 0 0 1 2 3 -1 0
Men (Pool B)
Teams P W D L PF PA Diff Pts
New Caledonia 2 2 0 0 20 0 +20 6
Tahiti 1 1 0 0 17 0 +17 3
Tonga 1 0 1 0 2 2 0 1
PNG 2 0 1 1 2 4 -2 1
FSM 2 0 0 2 0 35 -35 0
Women's tournament
Points Table after round two
Women
Teams P W D L PF PA Diff Pts
PNG 2 2 0 0 15 1 +14 6
Guam 2 1 1 0 1 0 +1 4
Tonga 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 4
Tahiti 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 3
Fiji 2 0 0 2 1 3 -2 0
Vanuatu 2 0 0 2 2 6 -4 0
Kiribati 1 0 0 1 0 13 -13 0

Leading goalscorers:

Men:

Paul Poatinda (NCL) 6

Michel Hmae (NCL) 5

Felix Tagawa (TAH) 4

Naea Bennett (TAH) 4

Pierre Wajoka (NCL) 3

Esala Masi (FIJ) 2

Salesh Kumar (FIJ) 2

Unalolo Feao (TON) 2

Commins Menapi (SOL) 2

Lawrence Nemeia (KIR) 2

Women:

Deslyn Siniu (PNG) 7

Miriam Lanta (PNG) 2

Julie Alau (PNG) 2

Matelita Misinale (TON) 2

Results to date:

Results – Day One, Monday 30 June 2003

Men’s Division (at National Stadium)

Tuvalu vs Kiribati 3-2 (Pool A)

Fiji vs Vanuatu 0-0 (Pool A)

Tahiti vs Federated States of Micronesia 17-0 (PoolB)

Papua New Guinea vs New Caledonia 0-2 (PoolB)

Women’s Division (at Ratu Cakobau Park)

Tonga vs Vanuatu 3-2

Papua New Guinea vs Kiribati 13-0

Guam vs Fiji 1-0

Results – Day Two, Tuesday 1 July 2003

Men’s Division (at National Stadium)

Fiji vs Tuvalu 4-0 (HT 4-0) (Pool A)

Solomons vs Vanuatu 2-2 (HT 0-1) (Pool A)

Papua New Guinea vs Tonga 2-2 (HT 1-0) (Pool B)

Federated States of Micronesia vs New Caledonia 0-18 (HT 0-8) (Pool B)

(ends)

More information and updates can be found on the official tournament website by clicking on the icon on the OFC website home page at www.oceaniafootball.com

Photo: New Caledonia look good during the early stages. photo courtesy Vincent Hoareau/Les Nouvelles Caledoniennes