\APIA: Vanuatu ran away with a convincing 9-1 win over American Samoa while Fiji survived a fierce challenge from the improving Papua New Guinea to win their first up match 4-2 in round 2 action of the Stage 1 (Group 2) Oceania Nations Cup/World Cup preliminaries in Apia, Samoa today.

Vanuatu led 3-1 at half-time. Etienne Mermer scored a hat-trick for Vanuatu with Alphose Qorig and Jean Maleb chipping in with doubles. Moise Poida and Seimata Chilia also scored goals.

American Samoa’s only goal in the first half came from a Vanuatu own goal which came about from a corner. They exerted a lot of defensive pressure on the Vanuatu players which frustrated them for much of the first half. Defender Ramin Ott was particularly impressive in his sweeper role for American Samoa.

PNG sniffed a rare upset when they took the early lead against Fiji. However, both sides went into the break with the scores locked at 2-2.

PNG scored first through Reginald Davani after a good through pass by midfielder Richard Daniel. Fiji equalised with a goal to Pita Rabo. Paul Komboi put PNG back in the lead with his goal with just minutes remaining in the half. But tall Fiji striker Veresa Toma got his side back on equal terms with an opportunist goal just before the half-time whistle.

The second half saw Fiji steadily dominating possession while wearing down the PNG players through their physical superiority. PNG lacked the urgency they displayed the first half and late in the second stanza, Laisiasa Gataurua capitalised on a goalmouth scramble to blast in the goal to put Fiji back in the lead.

In the dying minutes, the resurgent Fijians scored the winning goal through Seveci Rokotakala’s superb finish over PNG goalkeeper Tapas Posman to put the result beyond doubt.

Round 2 Review – 12 May 2004

Match 3: American Samoa vs Vanuatu

Full-time score: 1-9 Vanuatu

Half-time score: 1-3 Vanuatu

Goal-scorers: Van – (16) Alphose Qorig 30′ pen, 45+2′; (10) Etienne Mermer 37′, 56′, 90+1′; (11) Moise Poida 55′ ; (9) Seimata Chilia 65′ ; (17) Jean Maleb 80′, 90+2′

Own goal

Cautions: (17) Savaliga Afu 90′

Expulsions: none

Weather: Fine

Crowd Attendance: 100

Match Officials

Referee: Neil Fox (New Zealand)

Assistant Referee 1: Daniel Tauaroa (Tahiti)

Assistant Referee 2: David Sau (Solomon Islands)

Fourth Official: Michael Afu (Solomon Islands)

Match Commissioner: Bob Patterson (New Zealand)

Referee Inspector: Barry Such (Australia)

Team Lists (& Substitutions)

AMERICAN SAMOA

22 Nicky Salapu (c) GK

3 Maika Molesi

4 Pati Sinapati (-65′)

5 Uasi Heleta

6 Ace Lepou

7 Natia Natia (-57′)

8 Viliamu Vaofanua

9 Ramin Ott

15 Sam Baby Mulipola (-20′)

17 Savaliga Afu

18 Duane Atuelevao

Subs:

1 Iapesa Fanolua

2 Ben Segaiga (+20′)

10 Willie Fa’ataualofa

12 Filimaua Fatu (+65′)

13 Geoffrey Sua

14 Johnny Saelua

16 Tanu Junior Tanu (+57′)

19 Roy Ameperosa

Coach: Ian Crook

VANUATU

1 David Chilia (c) GK

4 Lexa Bule Bibi (-71′)

5 Wilkins Simon Lauru

8 Turei Joe Iautu (-47′)

9 Seimata Chillia

10 Etienne Mermer

12 Lorry Thompsen (-55′)

13 Richard Iwai

15 Daniel Koko Alick

16 Alphose Qorig

17 Jean Emmanuel Maleb

Subs:

2 Geoffrey Lego Gete (+47′)

3 Manley Junior Tabe

6 Graham Demas

7 Fedy Vava (+71′)

11 Moise Poida (+55′)

14 Pita David Maki

18 Maki Gerard Haitong

19 Roger Joe

20 Charly Kalsanei

Coach: Juan Carlos Buzzetti

Match 4: Fiji vs Papua New Guinea

Full-time score: 4-2 Fiji

Half-time score: 2-2 draw

Goal-scorers:

PNG – (10) Reginald Davani 12′; (17) Paul Komboi 44′

FIJ – (11) Pita Rabo 24′; (10) Veresa Toma 45+3′; (18) Laisiasa Gataurua 78′; (17) Seveci Rokotakala 90+’

Cautions: FIJ – (18) Laisiasa Gataurua 38′

Expulsions: none

Weather: Fine

Crowd Attendance: 500

Match Officials

Referee: Constantinos Diomis (Australia)

Assistant Referee 1: Teariki Goodwin (Cook Islands)

Assistant Referee 2: Neil Poloso (Solomon Islands)

Fourth Official: Matthew Breeze (Australia)

Match Commissioner: Bob Patterson (New Zealand)

Referee Inspector: Barry Such (Australia)

Team Lists (& Substitutions)

FIJI

1 Simione Tamanisau GK

4 Alvin Avinesh

5 Emosi Baleinuku

8 Malakai Kainihewe (-26′)

10 Veresa Toma

11 Pita Rabo (-43′)

12 Esala Masinisau (c)

13 Taniela Waqa

16 Viliame Toma

17 Seveci Rokotakala

18 Laisiasa Gataurua

Subs:

2 Lorima Dau

3 Nikola Raoma (+26′)

7 Stephen Morrel

9 Thomas Vulivuli (+43′)

14 Lagi Dyer

21 Pene Erenio

22 Waisake Sabutu

23 Shamal Kumar

Coach: Tony Buesnel

PNG

1 Tapas Posman GK

5 Selan Elizah

6 Hans Fred

7 Maurie Wasi

9 Richard Daniel (c)

10 Reginald Davani

11 Nathaniel Lepani (-39′)

13 Andrew Lepani (-60′)

14 Francis Moiyap

16 Yanding Tomda

17 Paul Komboi

Subs:

2 Brian Tuhiana

3 Geoffrey Imang

4 Billy Tomou

8 Abraham Enoch

12 Michael Lohai (+39′)

15 Spencer Marnhi

18 Ericson Komeng

19 Adrian Komu (+60′)

20 Geoffrey Baniau

Coach: Ludwig Peka

FULL RESULTS (after 2 rounds)

GROUP 1

Solomon Islands 6-0 Tonga

Tahiti 2-0 Cook Islands

Solomon Islands 5-0 Cook Islands

Tahiti 0-0 New Caledonia

GROUP 1 Points Ladder

Teams P W D L For Ag Dif Pts

Solomon Is 2 2 0 0 11 0 +11 6

Tahiti 2 1 1 0 2 0 +2 4

New Caledonia 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1

Cook Islands 2 0 0 2 0 7 -7 0

Tonga 1 0 0 1 0 6 -6 0

GROUP 2

PNG 1-1 Vanuatu

Samoa 4-0 Am Samoa

Am Samoa 1-9 Vanuatu

Fiji 4-2 PNG

GROUP 2 Points Ladder

Teams P W D L For Ag Dif Pts

Vanuatu 2 1 1 0 10 2 +8 4

Samoa 1 1 0 0 4 0 +4 3

Fiji 1 1 0 0 4 2 +2 3

PNG 2 0 1 1 3 5 -2 1

Am Samoa 2 0 0 2 1 13 -12 0