Photo Credit: OFC Media via Ivan Photography

The Solomon Islands have rebounded from their heartbreaking last gasp defeat by Tahiti to beat Papua New Guinea 17-4.

The home crowd were in full voice as the Solomon Islands made the perfect start with Thomas Amasia scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot in the second minute.

Two minutes later Jose Nawo doubled the lead when he turned and shot, the ball creeping across the goal line off the inside of the post. The writing was on the wall for the tournament debutants when Peter Reginald scored his side’s third goal in the 6th minute.

Babob Labong’s team had made a dream debut to international Beach Soccer 24 hours earlier when they stunned Fiji 8-6, but the home side were a step up in class and Albert Bobby fired in off the crossbar to put the hosts 4-0 and in command.

Raven Samuel pulled a goal back for Papua New Guinea with a fine strike by Raven Samuel before the end of the period to give Papua New Guinea hope heading into the second stanza, and they opened the scoring after the break with a real ‘football’ goal, some nice one touch passing setting up Goiravana Kala who beat James Do’oro in the Solomon Islands goal.

The crowd had gone silent, and the home side needed a bit of magic to regain the ascendency, and it came from Erick Wanega who blasted a long-range effort past Kopi Samuel in goal. Max Fa’ari then scored a quickfre brace to put the hosts firmly in control.

Peter Reginald then got into the action as Papua New Guinea wilted under the pressure, before Solomon Islands captain Charlie Otainao scored his side’s 9th goal, with Nawo grabbing his second not long after.

Raven Samuel beat the onrushing Do’oro to score his second of the game to briefly hope the Solomon Islanders momentum.

Wanega grabbed his hat-trick with a shot that bobbled over a hapless Samuel in goal to end a high scoring period.

Max Fa’ari scored his third of the game five minutes into the final period before Navu Willie got on the scoresheet for for Papua New Guinea. Wanega added two late strikes to put the icing on the cake, with Reginald claiming his hat-trick in the dying seconds.

The Solomon Islands know a win over Fiji in their final group stage game tomorrow will confirm their place in Saturday’s final while Papua New Guinea face the unenviable task of overcoming defending champs Tahiti while hoping Fiji win tomorrow, for them to make the final.

Solomon Islands: 17 (Thomas AMASIA 2 (P)’ 34 (P), Joses NAWO 6’, 20’, Albert Bobby 9’, Erick WANEGA 8’, 15’, 22’, 31′, 33′ Max Fa’ari 16’, 16’, 29′, Peter REGINALD 17’, 31′, 36′ Charlie OTAINAO 19’)
Papua New Guinea: 4 (Raven SAMUEL 10’, 21’, Goiravana KALA 13’, Navu WILLIE’ 30′)