LAUTOKA – Fiji bounced back from its defeat to New Zealand with an emphatic 7-1 win over a much improved Papua New Guinea. A hat-trick from the in-form Malakai Tiwa helped gaurentee the host nation three valuable points but Fiji coach Juan Carlos Buzzetti was left lamenting a lacklustre effort in front of goal.

Fiji may have won 7-1 but could easily have doubled that figure as Papua New Guinea cast caution to the wind in defence in the second half. The score line was somewhat unfair to George Cowie’s men with David Muta, Samuel Kini, Fabian Bagi and Niel Hans each taking a star turn throughout proceedings.

First-half goals to Avinesh Suwamy, Malakai Tiwa and Maciu Dunadamu gave Fiji a comfortable advantage. Tiwa completed his hat-trick with two strikes in the second-half with Dunadamu getting his second and Fiji’s sixth.

Shameel Rao completed the scoring for Fiji. Tau Winnie scored Papua New Guinea’s goal after some good build-up play by David Muta.

Roy Krishna looked sharp in a more withdrawn role for Fiji with Malakai Tiwa’s deadly finishing off-setting some wayward efforts on goal from Osea Vakatalesau.

“I was satisfied only. We missed six, seven or eight chances and today you can see the chances we missed.

Every goal here counts. You cannot afford to miss that many chances. But apart from that I’m satisfied. We asked them to pass the ball and play and we did that,” Juan Carlos Buzzetti said.

“We panicked in front of goal and we need to compose. We have to now see what happens.”

Papua New Guinea coach George Cowie was philosophical in defeat.

“Obviously we’re disappointed. We came here with high hopes. I’ve been away from Oceania football for four years and I picked the best players in the Papua New Guinea National League.

We gave away possession and didn’t defend properly.

The positives were the chances we created. We created at least nine or ten chances. The boys can play football but to create nine or ten chances and lose 7-1 is ridiculous,” Cowie said.

Oceania Football Confederation Men’s Olympic Football Tournament

Match Day 2

Churchill Park

Lautoka

Fiji

3 March 2008

Fiji vs. Papua New Guinea

 

FIJ: 5. Krishna SAMY; 6. Ranjil CHAND; 7. Avinesh Waran SUWAMY ( Kalasito POSIANO 72’); 10. Osea VAKATALESAU; 12. Malakai WAQA; 14. Roy KRISHNA; 15. Elvin PRASAD (3. Shameel RAO 36’); 16. Malakai TIWA; 17. Maciu DUNADAMU; 18. Shivan SWAMY (13. Joseph MISHRA 56’); 20. Nicholas LAWRENCE (gk);

 

SUBS: 1. Benamino MATEINAQARA; 2. Esava NAQELECA;; 4. Uraia Raimulu; 8. Alvin SINGH; 9. Leone DAMUDAMU;; 19. Ratu Josevata DUGUCAGI;

 

Coach: Juan Carlos Buzzetti

 

Cautions: 3. Shameel RAO; 10. Osea VAKATALESAU;

 

Red Cards: None

 

Goals: 7. Avinesh Waran SUWAMY 19’; 16. Malakai TIWA 24’, 55’, 69; 17. Maciu DUNADAMU 71’; Shameel Rao 76’;

 

PNG: 1. Anthon PIPI (gk); 2. Lawrence MOSES; 3. Matthew YANG; 6. Samuel KINI (17. Roniel IGENS 74’); 7. Fabian BAGI; 9. Tau WINNIE; 11. William MOBBS (13. Mathias APO 53’); 12. David MUTA; 15. Rodney TALAU; 16. Koriak UPAIGA; 19. Niel HANS (14. Raymond GUNEMBA 59’);

 

SUBS: 4. Cyril MUTA; 10. Jason WESLEY; 18.Charles PARANDA; 20. Gure GABINA

 

Coach: George COWIE (SCO)

 

Cautions: 16. Koriak UPAIGA 78’;

 

Red Cards: None

 

Goals: 9. Tau WINNIE 73’;

 

Referee: Lencie FRED (VAN)

 

Assistant Referee 1: Mahit CHILIA (VAN)

 

Assistant Referee 2: Brent Best (NZL)


 

Fourth Official: Peter O’LEARY (NZL)

OFC Men’s Olympic Football Tournament

Standings – 03.03.08

PL

W

D

L

GF

GA

PTS

GD

1.

Solomon Islands

2

2

0

0

17

1

6

+16

2.

New Zealand

2

2

0

0

4

1

6

+3

3.

Fiji

2

1

0

1

8

3

3

+8

4.

Vanuatu

2

1

0

1

4

2

3

+2

5.

Papua New Guinea

2

0

0

2

2

14

0

-12

6.

Cook Islands

2

0

0

2

0

15

0

-15

GOLDEN SHOE AWARD

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No.

Player

Country

Goals

21.

Benjamin TOTORI

SOL

8

16.

Malakai TIWA

FIJ

4

17.

Maciu DUNADAMU

FIJ

2

11.

Jeffry NAMANIAN

VAN

2

7.

Alick Maemae

SOL

2

15.

Joachim WAROI

SOL

2

19.

Joachim RANDE

SOL

2

17.

Joses NAWO

SOL

2

8.

Cole PEVERLEY

NZL

1

7.

Steven OLD

NZL

1

14.

Joseph NAMARIAU

VAN

1

19.

Tonny CHILLIA

VAN

1

13.

Mathias APO

PNG

1

6.

Nelson SALE

SOL

1

3.

Shameel RAO

FIJ

1

9.

Tau WINNIE

PNG

1

18.

Costa BARBAROUSES

NZL

1

10.

Jeremy Brockie

NZL

1

10.

Franklyn FORAU

SOL

1

CAUTIONS

No.

Player

Country

Cautions

19.

Tuka TISAM

COK

1

3.

Eddie BROGAN

COK

2

5.

Samuel KALOROS

VAN

1

10.

Fenedy MASAVAKAULO

VAN

1

15.

Rodney TALAU

PNG

1

3.

Shameel RAO

FIJ

1

10.

Osea VAKATALESAU

FIJ

1

16.

Koriak UPAIGA

PNG

1

4.

Steven WILLIS

COK

1

10.

Tom LE MOUTON

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