PNG lose semi-final and 3rd-place playoff

PNG suffered back-to-back defeats at the OFC Olympic qualifiers in New Zealand.
They lost 3-0 to Fiji in the semi-finals on Friday before losing yesterday’s third place playoff 1-0 to Vanuatu.
New Zealand earned the passage to the London Games after a close 1-0 win against Fiji in the final.
Greg Draper slotted home a penalty to put the Oly Whites in front in the 18th minute.
It proved to be the winner as New Zealand held off a strong second-half showing from Fiji to book their ticket to London.
In Friday’s semi-final, Fiji had little trouble in sweeping aside a strangely subdued PNG in a game where the Fijians were in control of the outcome from the 25th minute when captain Esava Naqeleca side-footed home a spot kick.
New Caledonian referee Bertrand Billon awarded the penalty after PNG goalkeeper Ronald Warisan brought down Misaele Draunibaka.
Billon was in the thick of the action again on the hour mark, pointing to the spot once more when PNG captain Roland Bala clipped Jone Salauneune in the box.
Naqeleca assumed responsibility and got the better of Warisan again, smashing the ball low into the opposite corner to his previous effort.
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Zibraaz Sahib padded the scoreline out in the 71st minute, climbing high at the back post to head home Salauneune’s pinpoint cross.
PNG coach Frank Farina had no complaints about his charges’ efforts but felt the penalties put them out of contention.
“The two penalties made a big difference and the first one killed us really,” he said.
“There’s always turning points in games and that was one of them because I thought we were on top at the time.
“The penalty is awarded and then you’re chasing the game because the other side gets confidence.
“When you have to chase the game like that you tend to open yourself up a bit.”
Yesterday’s playoff for third place saw a meshing of similar playing styles between Melanesian rivals PNG and Vanuatu.
The game was won in the 38th minute when a sustained spell of pressure from Vanuatu paid off as young star Jean Kaltack spun his marker on the edge of area and smashed home one of the goals of the tournament.
Things only got worse for PNG when Bala was lost to injury shortly before half-time and, despite enjoying a strong wind at their backs after the break, Farina’s side could not find a way through. 
Farina was disappointed to leave Taupo with nothing and cited his men’s failure to find the net as their downfall.
“We lacked intensity and I thought our final pass in the front third was very poor today,” he said.
“You have to score goals to win games and unfortunately we’ve come up short in that area here.”
Zibraaz Sahib padded the scoreline out in the 71st minute, climbing high at the back post to head home Salauneune’s pinpoint cross.
PNG coach Frank Farina had no complaints about his charges’ efforts but felt the penalties put them out of contention.
“The two penalties made a big difference and the first one killed us really,” he said.
“There’s always turning points in games and that was one of them because I thought we were on top at the time.
“The penalty is awarded and then you’re chasing the game because the other side gets confidence.
“When you have to chase the game like that you tend to open yourself up a bit.”
Yesterday’s playoff for third place saw a meshing of similar playing styles between Melanesian rivals PNG and Vanuatu.
The game was won in the 38th minute when a sustained spell of pressure from Vanuatu paid off as young star Jean Kaltack spun his marker on the edge of area and smashed home one of the goals of the tournament.
Things only got worse for PNG when Bala was lost to injury shortly before half-time and, despite enjoying a strong wind at their backs after the break, Farina’s side could not find a way through. 
Farina was disappointed to leave Taupo with nothing and cited his men’s failure to find the net as their downfall.
“We lacked intensity and I thought our final pass in the front third was very poor today,” he said.
“You have to score goals to win games and unfortunately we’ve come up short in that area here.”