PNG thump Samoa in opener

AN emphatic 5-0 victory over Samoa in the Oceania Football Confederation Women’s Nations Cup in New Caledonia on Sunday ensured Papua New Guinea a positive return to the international stage.
Although both sides started reasonably well, with Samoa looking comfortable in possession and even testing goalkeeper Faith Kasiray on a couple of occasions, it was Papua New Guinea who took the honour of scoring the competition’s opening goal.
Kasiray lofted the ball forward and as Samoa’s Mariecamilla Ah Ki tried to control on the bounce, striker Meagen Gunemba whipped the ball off her and slotted past goalkeeper Meripa Seumanutafa.
PNG captain Sandra Birum’s quick thinking saw her win the ball in midfield, where she played through for Gunemba who powered the ball into the back of the net for her second goal five minutes later.
Former U20 women’s captain Yvonne Gabong nipped in behind the defender to connect with a cross and head it neatly into the net in the 27th minute.
Samoa started to tire in the second half but continued to give their all but PNG were soon flexing their scoring muscles once more when Gunemba secured her hat-trick with a lob past Seumanutafa.
The side then rounded out the encounter late in the second half when Marie Kaipu’s powerful shot came off the crossbar, falling neatly for Rayleen Bauelua to tap in.
PNG coach Peter Gunemba wasn’t sure what to expect going into the game, but thought his side met a strong opponent who troubled his charges at times. “I was a bit surprised to see Samoa playing very well with good tactics,” Gunemba said.
“They hold the ball very well, but execution was a bit of a problem for them.
But looking at his own side, Gunemba had a couple of reasons to be proud.
Daughter Meagen scored the match and tournament opener, and went on to seal a hat-trick.
“As coach, I’m very pleased with the players because we scored five goals but there’s so many things we need to correct to be a perfect football team.
“At the same time, I was very pleased with Meagen.
“I expected her to score goals, but three is enough for her. Then we can look forward to if she can score in the next two games.”
Making her debut as Samoa coach, Nicola Demaine thought the commitment from her side was exactly what she asked for.
“I asked them to give 100 per cent and I can’t fault them on that,” she said.
“When you see them cramping up they’ve obviously given 100 per cent. It was a good effort.
“There was just some execution lacking in the tactic.
“Three weeks together they’re going to forget to do some things on the field but the second half, they stepped it up.
“It was a much closer game, much more control so I’m pleased with that progress but disappointed with the overall result.”
Samoa weren’t without their chances in the match and were unlucky to be denied by the woodwork at least on three occasions.
Demaine’s response to that showed a loss didn’t dampen her sense of humour as she noted the goals “must be smaller in New Caledonia”.
PNG’s next game will be against Tahiti tomorrow.