PNG in women’s soccer final

 By GABRIEL LAHOC 

NEW Caledonia and Papua New Guinea have booked themselves for the Pacific Games women’s soccer grand final, repeating the 2011 encounter between the two soccer rivals.

The two teams easily walked over their opponents yesterday at Bisini Sports ground with New Caledonia crushing the Cook Islands 5-1 and PNG beating Samoa 3-0.

New Caledonia striker Christelle Wahnawe grabbed a hat-trick with Myranda Rabah and Marielle Haocas adding the extras, while Cook Islands captain and striker Elizabeth Harmon managed a consolation goal.

In the main match, Samoa played a very ordinary game and defended most of the time against a strong PNG side which dominated possession.

PNG striker Georgina Kaikas grabbed the first goal when a clearing ball from a Samoan defender bounced off her abdomen back into the goal area. Meagan Gunemba added the second while Ramona Padia came off the bench to score the third.

Papua New Guinea coach Gary Philips said as tournament favourites and defending champions, there was a lot of pressure on the players to perform in front of the local crowd. 

“We’ve played Fiji, the Cook Islands and Samoa, three teams that are similar in the way that they set up, they got players behind the ball and made it very difficult to break through, we were never really threatened today,” Philips said.

“Fiji probably was the one team that threatened us the most.

“New Caledonia play a very different ball game, very different tactically. 

“They move the ball well, they are very mobile, they have a good passing game, so it’s a different game,” he said.

“I think New Caledonia’s type of football will suit us better, they won’t sit back behind the ball, they’ll be prepared to move and have a go at us, there’ll be consequences if they attack us.

“Hopefully there will be opportunities for us to counter,” Philips said.

Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia will have two days rest before their grand final on Thursday at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium .

The Cook Islands and Samoa will play in the bronze medal play-off match.