LAUTOKA, 10 July 2003: Over eight thousand spectators, packed into Lautoka’s Churchill Park, were treated to two action packed men’s semi-finals at the South Pacific Games football tournament last night.

Hosts Fiji needed a golden goal from defender Ratu Veresa Toma in the 106th minute to seal an epic 2-1 victory over defending champions Tahiti while New Caledonia survived a nerve-wracking penalty shootout over Vanuatu in the other semi-final after the scores were tied 1-1 after regulation and extra-time.

Fiji and New Caledonia will now travel back to Fiji’s capital Suva for the gold medal final at the National Stadium tomorrow evening. Vanuatu and Tahiti will playoff for the bronze medal.

Today’s schedule sees the final round of the women’s competition with the medal ceremony to take place at 3:30pm (local Fiji time). With leaders Guam drawing a bye today, and only one point clear of three teams tied for second and hosts Fiji also in the hunt, everything will be on the line.

DAY 8 REVIEW – Wednesday, 9 Jul 2003

MEN (results semi-finals) – at Churchill Park, Lautoka

Semi-final 1: Fiji vs Tahiti 2-1 (ht 1-1) Fiji wins on golden goal

Scorers: (6. Frank Papaura (TAH) 4′; 13. Taniela Waqa (FIJ) 9′; 10. Ratu Veresa Toma (FIJ) 106′)

Semi-final 2: New Caledonia vs Vanuatu 1-1 (4-3) New Caledonia wins on penalties

Scorers: (9. Lamel Kabeu (NCL) 44′; 14. Pita David Maki (VAN) 54′ )

Penalty shootout: 7. Gil Elmour, 10. Benjamin Longue, 4. Jacques Dahote, 2. Jean-Marc Case (NCL); 10. Etienne Mermer, 3. Manley Junior Tabe, 9. Seimata Chilia (VAN)

WOMEN (results round five – at Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori)

PNG vs Guam 1-0 (ht 0-0)

Scorers: (9. Deslyn Siniu (PNG) 69′)

Kiribati vs Tahiti 1-5 (ht 1-2)

Scorers: (10. Moaneti Teuea (KIR) 10′; 7. Mimosa Marmouyet (TAH) 5′, 82′; 8. Juliette Samin (TAH) 26′, 50′, 62′)

Fiji vs Vanuatu 3-2 (ht 1-2)

Scorers: (16. Lavinia Taga (VAN) 5′; 4. Josina Maleb (VAN) 21′; 8. Mere Adireki (FIJ) 36′, 79′; 9. Naomi Regu (FIJ) 49′)

Tonga bye

Women's Points Table after Round 6
POS TEAM P W D L For Ag Pts GD 
1 Guam 6 3 2 1 8 2 11 +6 
2 PNG 5 3 1 1 19 6 10 +13 
3 Tahiti 5 3 1 1 11 5 10 +6 
4 Tonga 5 3 1 1 8 5 10 +3 
5 Fiji 5 3 0 2 9 6 9 +3 
6 Vanuatu 5 0 1 4 6 12 1 -6
7 Kiribati 5 0 0 5 2 27 0 -25

DAY 9 schedule – Thursday, 10 July

WOMEN’S ROUND 7 at Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori

9:00am – Fiji vs Tonga

11:00am – Kiribati vs Vanuatu

1:00pm – PNG vs Tahiti

3:30pm – Medal Ceremony

Guam bye

*all times are local in Fiji

DAY 10 schedule, Friday, 11 July:

MEN’S FINALS at National Stadium, Suva

5:00pm – Bronze Medal Playoff

7:00pm – Gold/Silver Playoff

9:30pm – Medal Ceremony

*all times are local in Fiji

TOP GOAL-SCORERS:

MEN

Commins Menapi (SOL) – 10 goals

Esala Masi (FIJ) – 9 goals

Naea Bennett (TAH) – 8 goals

Felix Tagawa (TAH) – 7 goals

Paul Poatinda (NCL) – 7 goals

Michel Hmae (NCL) – 5 goals

Etienne Mermer (VAN) – 5 goals

Richard Iwai (VAN) – 5 goals

Seimata Chilia (VAN) – 4 goals

Unulolo Feao (TON) – 4 goals

Lamel Kabeu (NCL) – 4 goals

Ramon Djamali (NCL) – 3 goals

Pierre Wajoka (NCL) – 3 goals

Heimano Guyon (TAH) – 3 goals

WOMEN

Deslyn Siniu (PNG) – 8

Mimosa Marmouyet (TAH) – 5

Juliette Samin (TAH) – 4

Lavinia Taga (VAN) – 4

Naomi Regu (FIJ) – 4

Rachelle Camacho (GUM) – 3

Matelita Misinale (TON) – 3

Emelita Moala (TON) – 3

Mere Adireki (FIJ) – 3