AMERICAN SAMOA 0 FIJI 3 (KURIKABA 45+3, MOCE 53, 72)
Fiji continued their winning ways at the XIII South Pacific Games – Samoa 2007 today with a comfortable 3-0 win over a stout American Samoa at the J.S. Blatter Playing Fields in Apia, Samoa. Fiji –
widely tipped to finish amongst the medallists in the women’s football tournament – dominated the entire first half with Asena Reba Ratu turning in a commanding performance in the middle of the
park for Fiji.
American Samoa spent most of the match pinned inside their own half between their 18 yard box and the halfway line rarely threatening to break forward as Fiji exerted total control of the ball.
However, possession sometimes doesn’t equate to goals and it was clear midway through the first half that Fijian nerves were jangling somewhat as the indomitable American Samoa goalkeeper Filiga
Kerisiano made a string of brilliant saves that kept her team in the match.
Kerisiano’s talent was helped by a decent share of good fortune and miserable finishing by Fiji who created a dozen or so good chances throughout a first half in which it sometimes looked harder to
miss than to score.
The seriousness of the situation was shown on 13 minutes when American Samoa managed a rare excursion into Fijian territory as Jasmine Makiasi sprinted clear of her marker only for Fiji keeper Ana
Maria Karikari to race off her line and deny her opponent what was the best chance of the match.
Fiji coach Farouk Janeman responded by sending his substitutes to warm up and made a change when he wtihdrew Vika Sadrau for Radilaite Marama. Just three minutes later American Samoa had the ball
in the back of Fiji’s net only for the goal to be chalked off for offside.
With Kerisiano looking unbeatable it took a goal in time added on in the first-half to take the pressure off the Fiji camp. A Ratu freekick found Adiele Kurakaba unmarked in the six yard
box who powered an unstoppable header past the American Samoa keeper to make it 1-0.
With Fiji nerves settled the fear was American Samoa may wilt in the heat of the humid Samoan day and it took an uncharacteristic mistake from Filiga Kerisiano to convince Fiji the match had turned
for them beyond American Samoa’s capabilities of hauling back the deficit.
Uniasi Moce’s shot from distance somehow squirmed out of Kerisiano’s normally vice-like grip and fell into the back of the net to make it 2-0. Moce grabbed her second goal after 72 minutes to make
it 3-0 and the game was up for American Samoa as Fiji clambered into second place in Group A just behind high-flying Papua New Guinea.
American Samoa coach Tunoa Lui declared himself content with the performance and paid tribute to the heroics of Filiga Kerisiano.
“Filiga played injured today, she hurt herself at training yesterday, so to see her play as well as she did was great. She has had a great tournament for her country and I hope she will be fit for
our final match,” Lui said.
Fiji by contrast will be pleased with the performance and result but may be concerned that they didn’t find an easy way through American Samoa’s defences.
LIVE UPDATES:
0′ – The two teams have just shaken hands as the team line-ups are read out by the MC on a very hot and humid day at JS Blatter Playing Field in Apia, Samoa
1′ – Referee Fiti AIMAASU gets us underway as Fiji in their traditional black and white kit against American Samoa sporting their navy blue and red.
3′- American Samoa freekick fired up field gives the team from Pago a sniff of goal but Fiji goalkeeper KARIKARI quickly stops the danger.
3′- Fiji’s Dijilia DUGUCANAVANUA takes a corner but its headed just wide!
4′- American Samoa goalkeeper Filiga KERISIANO saves a Fiji shot and its a corner
5′- The corner is put into the penalty area and Radailite MARAMA shoots but KERISIANO saves again!
6′- Fiji freekick 22m out from goal. Fiji skipper Asena Reba RATU shoots and Filiga KERISIANO saves
7′- Asena Reba RATU shoots and Filiga KERISIANO palms the ball away and the danger is cleared. KERISIANO is making an inspirational start to the match yet again…and American Samoa will need her
brilliance again today
9′- Fiji have another corner and Asena Reba RATU swings in a dangerous ball that Filiga KERISIANO has to save
11′- American Samoa venture out of their own territory for the first time in this match but are soon back on the defence
12′- Fiji shoot byVika SANDRAU but KERISIANO saves
12′- A corner comes in for Fiji and SANDRAU heads over with KERISIANO stranded
13′- Its a break away and American Samoa could score…KARIKARI comes rushing out of goal and collides with the American Samoa striker and its a corner – best chance of the game for either team so
far
18′- And its a misty rain that descends on JS Blatter Playing Field with the scores still locked at 0-0 as Fiji dominate the territory and American Samoa hang on
21′- Fiji’s Unaisi MOCE wins a header from American Samoa’s Angela SAO and the ball breaks clear
22′- Fiji skipper Asena Reba RATU is in the thick of the action again striking a long range effort that Filiga KERISIANO saves easily
23′- Fiji coach Farouk JANEMAN is clearly not happy with his team and his substitutes have been sent to warm up
25′- Still no breakthrough for Fiji despite their domination in almost every aspect of play except in goal. Unaisi MOCE lets fly with a 30m rasping drive which Filiga KERISIANO saves
26′ Free kick to Fiji which RATU fires in and forces yet another wonderful save from Filiga KERISIANO
27′- Fiji make space down the flank and Vulolo Anaisi TORA whips in a wonderful cross but SADRAU heads wide
28′- RATU whips in a dangerous corner but Sera TALANAVULA’s header smacks the face of the crossbar and American Samoa survive yet again
30′- Fiji dominate through Asena Reba RATU in midfield but no breakthrough yet
36′- Substitution
3. Vika SADRAU is replaced by 8. Radalaite MARAMA
39′- American Samoa have the ball in the back of the net from a freekick by Tofaagaolii OLOALUGA as Regina WRIGHT attempts a bicycle kick…but the effort is ruled out for offside
44′- American Samoa long ball is headed on by Jasmine MAKIASI for Angelo SAO to run onto but it comes to nothing.
— 4 minutes added time —
45+3′- GOAL!
Fiji score after RATU’s freekick from out wide finds 6 Adiela KURIKABA alone in the six yard box and she powers a header past Filiga KERISIANO
HALF-TIME: ASA 0 FIJ 1
46′- The second half gets underway with both sides unchanged.
47′- Fiji Radilaite MARAMA swings in a corner and the ball is cleared
48′- 3 Regina WRIGHT leaves the field of play to be replaced by 6 Lita TAOTOTO for American Samoa
52′- Fiji corner from Radilaite MARAMA is nearly put into the net by an American Samoa defender
55′- A cross from the right is cleared by American Samoa and a Fiji striker is denied when Filiga KERISIANO bravely dives into harms way to make the save. Referee AIMAASU awards a free kick
for American Samoa
55′- GOAL!
17 Unaisi MOCE gathers the clearance and fires a long range shot straight at KERISIANO…and its an uncharacteristic mistake by the keeper as the ball ends up in the back of the net!
57′- A long range shot this time by Fiji’s Sera TALANAVULA whistles goalwards – and this time KERISIANO grabs the ball with both hands, a good comeback by the American Samoa goalkeeper
60′- A curling cross from the left is headed clear by American Samoa defender Momi ENE
61′- Fiji are in control of the match now they have the 2-0 lead but American Samoa can be proud of another plucky performance against one of the tournament favourites.
62′- A long range shot by Unaisi MOCE flies well wide of the American Samoa goal
63′- The weather conditions in Apia today are sweltering with the players clearly affected by the hot late afternoon sun
65′- American Samoa have a good spell in possession of the ball and Fiji have dropped their pace a little. Fiji will have to be careful if they do not take American Samoa too lightly in this hot
afternoon sun
71′- Fiji Adiela KURIKABA shoots and KERISIANO saves and Asena Reba RATU follows up but KERISIANO saves again
72′- GOAL!
17 Unaisi MOCE fires a shot past KERISIANO and into the net and its now 3-0 to Fiji
74′- 6 Adiela KURIKABA is replaced by 18 Naomi REGU for Fiji
74′- 8 Lelamay KERISIANO is replaced by 16 Margaret MORRIS for American Samoa
77′- American Samoa and Fiji appear drained from the sheer effort of playing in such heat
87′- 13 Unaisi VATULILI’s afternoon is over and she is replaced by 11 Kinisimere VANUA for Fiji
87′- 6 Lita TAOTOTO is replaced by 12 Beulah ONEY for American Samoa
89′- The match has ended as a spectacle with both teams content to see out the remainder of the match
— 2 minutes added time —
90’+2- The referee blows his whistle for fulltime and its Fiji who emerge victorious as American Samoa leave with a respectable defeat
FULL-TIME: ASA 0 FIJ 3
XIII SOUTH PACIFIC GAMES – SAMOA 2007
Women’s Group A
Match Day 3 – 1500 – 30 August 2007
Toleafoa J.S. Blatter Football Fields – Apia – Samoa
AMERICAN SAMOA: 1. Filiga KERISIANO[gk]; 2. Maria SEFO; 3. Regina WRIGHT (6. Lita TAOTOTO
48′ (12. Beulah ONEY 87′)); 4. Tofaagaolii OLOALUGA; 5. Fetu LAKISA; 7. Angela SAO; 8. Lelamay KERISIANO (16. Nellie TAUMANUPEPE 75′); 9. Meleane KERISIANO; 11.Sandra HERRERA; 13. Momi ENE; 15.
Jasmine MAKIASI.
Coach: Tunoa LUI
Substitutes not used: 10. Ivette HERRERA; 14. Ora BROWN; 18. Jermaima Fuatino KALEOPA; 19. Titula NAUER; 24. Marleen
SILIGI [gk].
Injured: None.
Suspended: None.
Not available: None.
Cautions:
Red cards:
Goal scorers:
FIJI: 20. Ana Maria KARIKARI [gk]; 2. Mereoni YABAKIDRAU; 3. Vika SADRAU (8. Radilaite
MARAMA 36′); 4. Alisi MEREDANI; 5. Sera TALANAVULA; 6. Adiela KURIKABA (18. Naomi REGU 74′); 7. Vulolo Anaisi TORA; 10. Asena Reba RATU; 12. Lynette PEARCE; 13. Unaisi VATULILI (11. Kinisimere
VANUA 87′); 15. Jijilia DUGUCANAVANUA; 17. Unaisi MOCE.
Coach: Farouk JANEMAN
Substitutes not used: 1. Lice WAQAILITI; 9. Laisana MATAELE; 14. Mereani GALO; 16. Margaret MORRIS; 19. Kinisimere
RAVAI.
Injured:
Suspended:
Not available:
Cautions:
Red cards:
Goal scorers: 6. Adiela KURIKABA (45’+3); 17. Unaisi MOCE (53′, 72′).
Referee: Fiti AIMAASU (SAM)
Assistant Referee: Michael JOSEPH (VAN)
Assistant Referee: Nawen HOPKEN (VAN)
Fourth Official: Jacques AVERII (TAH)
Fifth Official: Mahit CHILIA (VAN)
MATCH PHOTOS:
