PNG reach final

A MEAGAN Gunemba second-half double helped Papua New Guinea to a 3-0 shutout of Samoa in their semifinal of the Oceania Football Confederation Women’s Nations Cup in Fiji yesterday.
It was not an easy victory, however, as Samoa started the match the stronger of the two sides with PNG guilty of turning over easy possession time and again at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
But PNG’s scrambling defence, led by Lucy Maino, kept turning away Samoa until Charlie Yanding opened the scoring with a low left-footed strike off a through ball by midfielder Ramona Padio in the 44th minute.
Fellow Morobean Gunemba extended PNG’s lead when her in-swinging corner kick bamboozled Samoa’s defence and snuck into the goalmouth three minutes into the second half.
Samoa came closest to opening their account when Maino conceded a foul against Sariah Taeaoalii just outside the box, but was ruled otherwise as the referee awarded a spot kick to the Polynesians.
Rightly so, Samoa skipper Monique Fisher’s effort was parried by PNG goalkeeper Faith Kasiray as coach Nicole Demaine’s charges defended their two-goal lead valiantly. Gunemba killed any hopes of a Samoan comeback when her 23m effort found the bottom left corner in the 79th minute, sending PNG through to Saturday’s final against hosts Fiji, who beat the Solomon Islands 3-1 last night.
“The hard work was going back and learning from everything happening during the tournament and bringing everything together on game day,” Demaine said post-match.
“The quarterfinal against Tonga was a great lesson for us and we were able to put that into this game. We came here to create history, so we’re going one step at a time.
“We’re on the path to improve from the last tournament (where PNG finished third), so we’ll see what we can do to finish the job off.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister James Marape hailed PNG for the win. The team are supported by the Government and people of PNG through the National Gaming Control Board and Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited.
“Our young women are indeed a breath of fresh air for PNG after all the doom-and-gloom stories about election-related violence,” Marape said.
“I join with the rest of our nation in celebrating the win of our team, who have brought great pride to us. I am especially proud because two weeks ago, while attending the Pacific Islands Forum in Suva, I visited them and wished them all the best as they strive for a place in the World Cup.
“They carry the hopes and dreams of our nation, especially our young women. I will join in with the rest of PNG on Saturday as you bring us together as one people, one nation, one country.”