PNG women win soccer final 2-1

By HENRY MORABANG in Noumea
WOMEN’S defending Pacific Games soccer champions, PNG successfully retained their title by winning gold after defeating hosts New Caledonia 2-1 in front of a packed Numa Daly Stadium in Magenta on Friday night.
Though PNG were champions, they went into the gold medal play-off as underdogs while New Caledonia, who were undefeated in the tournment were favourites to win.
Despite the pre-planned activities for the home teams, PNG had other ideas by scoring an unlikely 2-1 win over a very good New Caledonia team. In the men’s final Solomon Islands went down 2-0 to New Caledonia.
New Caledonia’s women had had gone through the pool stages undefeated and looked set to be the new soccer champions.
But a defiant PNG  played bravely  and were good enough to seal it in the final five minutes.
The night belonged to five surviving members of 2007 Games in striker Ara Midi, Deslyn Siniu, Katherine Salaiau, Miriam Lanta and goalkeeper Linda Bunaga who held the New Caledonians at bay.
Midi from Eastern Highlands looked to capitalise on any opportunity that came her way with her hassling style and it paid off when she put PNG ahead early in the first half.
Siniu played on in pain with broken toes and it paid off with her second gold medal of the Pacific Games
Ageless skipper Lanta won the hearts of the small PNG community in Noumea with her fighting spirit.
Bunaga also made several telling saves putting her body on the line to save diffuse several dangerous situations.
New Caledonia captain captain Christelle Wahnawe had a chance snuffed out by Bunaga in what proved to a crucial save.
PNG’s Sandra Birum of Lae and Madang’s Ramona Morris were effectively handled by a well-organised New Caledonian defence but that did not stop both wingers from trying all day.
With the game 1-0 in favour of PNG, New Caledonia lifted the intensity and many times caught the PNG women flatfooted but could not convert that pressure into goals.
However they were rewarded when Wahnawe scored from a long range penalty kick to lock the scores at 1-1.
In the second half, New Caledonia brought on Cheyenne Dieuma into the midfield.
Duema made her presence felt when she nearly scored with a long range shot but Bunaga managed to tap it over the cross bar.
Midi was injured in the aerial challenge with New Caledonia and the play was held up while she received treatment.
With clock ticking away in the last 10 minutes the stage was set for someone step up and supply the game breaker.
Xolawawa had a great chance to score the winner but her strike sailed over the bar.
With a minute to go, PNG were gifted the final when Midi was brought down in the box.
Linah Honeakii slotted the winner to kick off PNG’s celebrations.