Tahiti and Tonga fought out an ill-tempered 0-0 draw at the XIII South Pacific Games Women’s Football Tournament this morning with referee Nelson Sogo handing out no less than
six yellow cards – three to each team – in a dour fixture at Toleafoa J.S.Blatter Football Fields in Apia.
Tonga went the closest to scoring as early as the 7th minute when Penateti Feke turned inside her marker and blasted a fierce shot against the face of the Tahiti crossbar from
just 9 yards out.
The rest of the 1st half became a tedious affair as both midfields cancelled each other out with fierce tackles and rough physical play the order of the day.
Tahiti’s best chance of the 1st half came when Gloria Hauta fired a free kick against the Tongan wall and Jeanne Mahiatapu fired the rebound searing over the crossbar for a
goal kick.
Tahiti skipper Mismosa Marmouyet had Tonga in a bind moments later when she swung in a dangerous ball that flashed across the face of Mele Likiliki’s six yard box before
pinballing its way to safety after taking a series of random deflections in a crowded box.
The final act of a tough first half saw Penateti Feke sent through one on one with Tahiti goalkeeper Poroni Turana who sped off her line at top speed before clattering Feke off
her feet without making contact with the ball.
The second-half never rose to any great heights as a spectacle with referee Nelson Sogo forced to book six players starting with Tahiti’s Josiane Tauraa.
The contagion soon spread with Sogo issuing a further five yellow cards in an 11 minute period – all justified – as both team’s became frustrated with each other, the most
notable a double booking for Yakeula of Tahiti and Manu of Tonga after the pair engaged in a push-shove match on halfway right in front of the fourth official’s desk.
With a draw not doing any harm to either team’s semi-final aspirations the match petered out to a 0-0 draw that gave both teams a temporary four point buffer between them and
third place.
LIVE UPDATES:
0’- Tahiti and Tonga line-up as the national anthems ring out around Toleafoa JS Blatter Football Field, on this wonderful and sunny morning in Apia,
Samoa.
0’- The MC reads out the two team line-ups with Tahiti naming the same line-up that so comprehensively dismantled Samoa two days ago. Tonga’s line-up is also unchanged in what
promises to be a fascinating encounter.
1’- The match gets underway with Tonga applying early pressure
3’- Tonga get the first corner of the match
7′- So close! Tonga hit the crossbar as Tahiti struggle to come to terms with Tonga’s powerful start.
12′- Angela TAIRUI is involved in a tough challenge with her opposite number and after receiving treatment is helped from the pitch
15′- TAIRUI returns to the action
18′- Jeanne MAHIATAPU shoots at Tonga’s goal but Mele Likiliki dives low to her left and palms the ball away to keep the score locked at 0-0
20′- Tahiti get a freekick and shoot for goal but no danger
21′- Tahiti’s Mimosa MARMOYOUET bombs a freekick into the Tonga six yard box but its all too easy for Tonga captain and goalkeeper Mele LIKILIKI and takes the catch
comfortably
24′- The match is turning into a midfield struggle with strong tackles and frequent turnover of possession the order of the day for both Tonga and Tahiti with neither side able
to assert dominance
26′- Tonga free-kick fired in on target by Penateti FEKE but Tahiti goalkeeper Poroni TURANA makes a regulation save at the near post
27′- Tahiti’s Jeanne MAHIATAPU shoots for goal but LIKILIKI saves
28′- A free kick is given to Tahiti as play breaks down from the shot. Gloria HAUTA takes the free kick and it cannons into the wall and rebounds to Jeanne MAHIATAPU who sends
her shot flying inches over the crossbar
31′- MARMOUYET whips in a dangerous corner and Tonga are at panic stations as the ball bobbles about the six yard box before being hacked clear
33′- Tonga counter-attack and FEKE plays the ball into the danger area as Poroni TURANA, Tahiti’s goalkeeper, is called on to make two instinctive saves to keep her team in the
match
35′- Tonga’s Neomai TUPOU is having a strong running performance in midfield
36′- Free kick to Tahiti is cleared and the score remains 0-0
37′- MARMOUYET is on the receiving end of a crunching tackle by Atelaite MANU but referee Nelson SOGO of Solomon Islands waves play on
42′- The match is a war of attrition in midfield with neither side able to assert their dominance on this match. Tahiti have yet to reproduce their form from the match against
Samoa two days ago and the experience of Tonga at this level is starting to show.
43′- A through ball puts Penateti FEKE through on goal for Tonga but Tahiti goalkeeper Poroni TURANA clatters into the striker and the ball trundles out for a goal
kick
44′- Tonga’s Matelita MISINALE is offside
45′- Penateti FEKE hits a sweet cross into the Tahiti six yard box and the ball eludes two oncoming Tongan players as Tahiti race to get the ball clear
45’+1 – Gloria HAUATA of Tahiti is injured and requires attention as referee Nelson SOGO brings the first half to a close as the score remains Tahiti 0, Tonga 0
HALF-TIME: TAH 0 TON 0
46′- The second half gets underway with Tahiti making early in-roads but Mele LIKILIKI gathers the ball and the danger has passed for Tonga
49′- The midfield battle continues as Tonga win a corner after Penateti FEKE tangles with Maruina TOM SING VIEN
49′- The corner flies into the penalty area and Tonga’s Sala VEAMATAHAU shoots and its tipped away for yet another corner
50′- Tonga have the upper hand in this match as Tahiti seem to be unable to reproduce their performance against Samoa
51′- A long ball is played into the Tonga 18 yard box and Pesalini LAVE heads the ball clear for Tonga
53′- Salote LAUTAHA sprints into the Tahiti penalty area with Patricia YAKEULA for company as YAKEULA cleverly heads the ball back to goalkeeper TURANA
60′- Maumea MAFI of Tonga is injured in after taking a tumble near halfway close to the fourth official’s bench
61′- The match is a stalemate in every respect and it is difficult to see how these two teams can be seperated – a draw would be a reasonable result for both
teams…
62′- MAFI returns to the pitch for Tonga after receiving treatment on the sideline
63′- YELLOW CARD
3. Josaine TAURAA of Tahiti goes into the book for a hefty challenge on Pesalini LAVE of Tonga
65′- Freekick for Tonga which Penateti FEKE fires at the goalkeeper.
65′- YELLOW CARD
15. Salote LAUTAHA joins TAURAA in referee Nelson SOGO’s book
67′- YELLOW CARD
18. Maumea MAFI is the second Tonga player to be booked by Nelson SOGO as the match begins to get scrappy
69′- Corner for Tahiti is wasted by MARMOUYET and Tonga breathe a sigh of relief as the score remains 0-0
72′- Free kick to Tonga as FEKE floats a ball in to the far post which the Tahiti defence deals with easily
73′- The match needs one of the coaches to make a substitution to try and inject something new into proceedings…maybe both team’s would be happy with a draw after
all?
75′- Tonga earn a corner after LAUTAHA’s shot is deflected out by the Tahiti defence
76′- FEKE’s corner goes straight back to her and she shoots again and the ball richochets off the defender for another corner
76′- FEKE’s second corner is cleared by Angelina THUNOT of Tahiti
76′- YELLOW CARD
2. Patricia YAKEULA of Tahiti is booked for her part in an ugly confrontation with Atelaite MANU
76′- YELLOW CARD
9. Atelaite MANU joins YAKEULA in SOGO’s growing list of players
77′- Corner for Tonga taken by FEKE and the ball is cleared off the knee of Josaine TAURAA of Tahiti
80′- FEKE crosses for MANU but MANU’s header goes wide and its a goal kick for Tahiti
81′- Tonga go close but TURANA saves Tahit
82′- Tonga have another strike on goal by MANU again but the ball whistles over the crossbar by centimetres
84′- Salote LAUTAHA shoots at goal for Tonga but the ball blazes high and wide
84′- YELLOW CARD
7. Mimosa MARMOUYET of Tahiti becomes the latest player to receive a yellow card in what has become a dour match
86′- SUBSTITUTION
Tahiti make a double substitution:
6. Angelina THUNOT is replaced by 13. Felicite KAIHA
7. Maimosa MARMOUYET is replaced by 15. Gwendoline TEPEA
90′- The 90 minutes are up and referee Nelson SOGO indicates to the fourth official that there will be an additional 5 minutes of time added on
90’+1- The match enters time added on with Tahiti and Tonga looking happy enough with a 0-0 result
90’+2- One of the least enthralling matches of the XIII South Pacific Games – Samoa 2007 is petering out for a 0-0 bore draw here at Toleafoa J.S.Blatter Football
Fields
90’+5- FULLTIME
MATCH PHOTOS:
XIII SOUTH PACIFIC GAMES – SAMOA 2007
Women’s Group B
Match Day 4 – 1000 – 1 September 2007
Toleafoa J.S. Blatter Football Fields – Apia – Samoa
TAHITI: 1. Poroni TURANA; 2. Patricia YAKEULA; 3. Josaine TAURAA; 4. Maruina TOM SING VIEN; 5. Angela TAIRUI; 6. Angelina THUNOT (13. Felicite KAIHA 86′); 7.
Mimosa MARMOUYET (15. Gwendoline TEPEA 86′); 8. Lavema TARIHAA; 9. Tania BONNEFIN; 10. Gloria HAUATA; 11. Jeanne MAHIATAPU.
Coach: Ralph APURII
Substitutes not used: 12. Maima MARMOUYET; 14. Sandrine TEAUNA; 16. Juliana MAETA; 17. Monique TOKORAGI; 18. Nathalie TOPA; 20. Wilhermine MAIRAU.
Injured: None.
Suspended: None.
Not available: None.
Cautions: 3. Josaine TAURAA (63′); 2. Patricia YAKEULA (76′); 7. Mimosa MARMOUYET (84′)
Red cards:
Goal scorers:
TONGA: 1. Mele LIKILIKI; 3. Kulia FILO; 4. Pesalini LAVE; 5. Saa VEAMATAHAU; 7. Salome VAENUKU; 8. Neomai TUPOU; 9. Atelaite MANU;
11. Matelita MISINALE; 12. Penateti FEKE; 15. Salote LAUTAHA; 18. Maumea MAFI.
Coach: Kilife UELE
Substitutes not used: 6. Olive MATEIALONA; 10. Heilala LOTOANIU; 13. Makeleta FOLAUMOETAO; 14. Unise HAFOKA; 16. Karen UTAATU; 17. Lose PELE; 19. Uluaki KAUFUSI;
20. Elenoa LAUHINGOA
Injured: 2. Mele NIUKAPU.
Suspended:
Not available:
Cautions: 15. Salote LAUTAHA (65′); 18. Maumea MAFI (68′); 9. Atelaite MANU (76′)
Red cards:
Goal scorers:
Referee: Nelson SOGO (SOL)
Assistant Referee: Hilary ANI (PNG)
Assistant Referee: Rohitesh DAYAL (FIJ)
Fourth Official: Finau VULIVULI (FIJ)