LAUTOKA – Entertainment, skill, excitement and energy have been Papua New Guinea’s buzz words at this tournament and Match Day 5 was to be no exception after George Cowie’s team handed Vanuatu a 7-2 defeat at Churchill Park today.
A hat-trick by Tau Winnie was the cornerstone of a performance that provided a master class in all that is both good and bad in Papua New Guinea football. That is, a propensity to err toward attacking at all costs as opposed to any semblance of defensive cohesion.
By racing into a 3-0 lead after just 18 minutes, there was always the possibility of three goals not being enough for Papua New Guinea to hang on for maximum points, particularly against a Vanuatu side that had plenty to prove before kick-off after what must be regarded as a disappointing tournament.
But take nothing away from Papua New Guinea – going forward they can be as captivating to watch as they are frustrating when they perform elementary defensive errors best viewed through splayed fingers.
David Muta is the architect of much that is positive about this generation of players in Papua New Guinea and news that he could soon join his national team coach on the books of a semi-professional club in Australia is a welcome and deserved endorsement of his obvious talents.
Vanuatu, by contrast, looked ragged and disorganised as a collective, even if there were individual displays worthy of praise, particularly that of Fenedy Masauvakalo and Geoffrey Lego Gete.
But today belonged to Papua New Guinea and Tau Winnie in particular. Winnie proved his goal tally to date is no fluke scoring against a Vanuatu defence that had a big reputation prior to the tournament.
Raymond Gunemba – who will take fond memories home of his double strike against New Zealand – added another goal to his personal haul. Koriak Upaiga scored Papua New Guinea’s sixth goal and Winnie completed his hat-trick and Papua New Guinea’s seventh in stoppage time at the end of the second half.
Michel Kaltak and Fenedy Masauvakalo scored what proved to be consolation goals more likely associated with Papua New Guinea’s casual attitude to defending than anything else.
The sending off of Kaltak early in the second half for a crude tackle on the sublime David Muta was the appropriate exclamation mark for a Vanuatu performance that promised much at the start of this tournament yet will end in acrimony.
INTERVIEW: PAPUA NEW GUINEA COACH GEORGE COWIE CLICK HERE
OFC MEN’S OLYMPIC FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT
MATCH NO.14
VANUATU vs PAPUA NEW GUINEA
CHURCHILL PARK
LAUTOKA
FIJI
KICK-OFF: 14H30 (FIJI TIME)
VAN: 1. Charley KALNASEI; 4. Rexley TARIVUTI; 5. Samuel KALAROS (3. Bula CHILLIA 60’); 6. Wilson KAILO; 7. Spencer NOAL (9. Roger JOE 53’); 10. Fenedy MASAUVAKALO; 11. Jeffry NIMANIAN; 12. Michel KALTACK; 13. Francois SAKAMA; 14. Joseph NAMARIAU(8. Brian MELAR 28’) ; 17. Geoffrey Lego GETE.
SUBS: 2. Andrew CHICHIRUA; 18. Apete KARA;; 15. Manu PETER; 16. Tchamaco MAHE;; 19. Tonny CHILLIA.
INJURED: 20. Yannick MERKA [rgk].
COACH: Philemon JOHN (VAN)
CAUTIONS: 17. Geoffrey Lego GETE 17’.
RED CARDS: 12. Michel KALTAK 56’.
GOALS: 12. Michel KALTAK 53’; 10. Fenedy MASAUVAKOLO 78’.
PNG: 3. Mathew YANG; 4. Cyril MUTA; 5. Tarcicius MANDARIP; 6. Samuel KINI; 7. Fabian BAGI (18. Charles PARANDA 56’); 9. Tau WINNIE; 12. David MUTA (10. Jason WESLEY 62’); 14. Raymond GUNEMBA; 15. Rodney TALAU (2. Lawrence MOSES 40’); 16. Koriak UPAIGA; 20. Gure GABINA [gk].
SUBS: 1. Anthony PIPI; 11. William MOBBS; 13. Mathias APO; 17. Roniel IGENS;; 19. Niel HANS.
COACH: George COWIE (SCO)
CAUTIONS: None
RED CARDS: None
GOALS: 6. Samuel KINI 10’; 9. Tau WINNIE 12’, 67’, 91+’; 12. David MUTA 18’; 16. Koriak UPAIGA 74’; 14. Raymond GUNEMBA 60’.
REFEREE: Rakesh VARMAN (FIJ)
ASSISTANT REFEREE 1: Collins AUVELE (SAM)
ASSISTANT RFFEREE 2: Salesh CHAND (FIJ)
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Andrew MOLI (SOL)
OFC MENS OLYMPIC FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT
FINAL STANDINGS
|
|
PL. |
W. |
D. |
L. |
GF. |
GA. |
PTS. |
GD. |
|
|
1. |
New Zealand |
5 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
19 |
3 |
15 |
+16 |
|
2. |
Solomon Islands |
5 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
25 |
5 |
12 |
+20 |
|
3. |
Fiji |
5 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
21 |
6 |
9 |
+15 |
|
4. |
Papua New Guinea |
5 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
17 |
20 |
6 |
-2 |
|
5. |
Vanuatu |
5 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
6 |
16 |
3 |
-10 |
|
6. |
Cook Islands |
5 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
38 |
0 |
-38 |