PNG stun Tahiti

A Raymond Gunemba-inspired Papua New Guinea team beat Tahiti 2-1 for the first time in international soccer between the two countries in Papeete yesterday.
The second game of their 2018 World Cup qualifier at Stade Pater in the Tahiti capital was the setting for Flemming Serritslev’s men, who overcame the loss of winger David Browne and the unavailability of other key players to create their own slice of PNG football history.
In the process PNG revived their qualifying hopes and will look forward to June’s two-game series with the Solomon Islands that will decide who tops Group B and advances to meet Group A’s winner.
The hosts had gone into the game knowing a win would take them through to face New Zealand in November’s OFC playoff, but came up short against a determined Kapuls side.
As a result, it is now all to play for in Group B, with Tahiti still top on six points but PNG and Solomon Islands, both three behind and, crucially, holding two games in hand.
The visitors had welcomed back Gunemba after a suspension, and the Lae City Dwellers captain’s speed and ability to combine with Nigel Dabinyaba on attack proved difficult for Tahiti to contain.
The returning Gunemba came close to breaking the deadlock just after the half-hour mark, in fact, when his powerful shot was batted away by Tahiti keeper Mikael Roche. But PNG would not be denied, and their persistence paid off in the 62nd minute when Patrick Aisa headed them in front.
The goalscorer then turned provider 12 minutes later, battling to regain possession before setting up Gunemba to curl a shot over the despairing Roche.
A Tahiti comeback rarely looked on, although they did claim a consolation goal three minutes into stoppage time when Tauhiti Keck’s shot caught out Ronald Warisan in the PNG goal.  Nonetheless, it was too little, too late, with the visitors left to celebrate a vital qualifying victory.