Solomons women bow out of soccer

 By GABRIEL LAHOC

THE Solomon Islands women’s soccer team has bowed out of the Pacific Games after losing to Tonga 2-0 yesterday.

Their loss in the second of three matches was part of a lazy day of soccer where Fiji drew with Cook Islands 1-1 in the first match and New Caledonia, despite being the favourite, drew with Somoa, which came from behind to level 2-2.

Tonga’s midfielder Mele Soakai, who was strong in her ball distribution, was rewarded by slotting in the first goal in the third quarter.

Another Tongan, Mele Akolo played cleverly by heading the ball past an advancing Solomon Islands goalkeeper Betty Sade to double their advantage.

Solomon Islands coach Luke Eroi said despite having several good chances to score his charges could not to do so.

“It was not working because our two strikers were not working together up front,” Eroi said.

“When they lose the ball they don’t fight, they just leave the defenders free all the time.

“This loss now means we are out We will be relegated from the tournament.

“We’ve got only one game to go but it’s not enough for us now.

“I know that we are out of the competition,” Eroi said.

“Otherwise we will have to step up to do our development programmes to come up with a better team again,” he said

Winning coach Fijian Lui Muavosi described their first win as one of the best.

“A win is a win, whether it’s two or three goals; beating Solomons is okay,” he said.

“It’s a good feeling after a bad start where we lost 1-0 but I think the girls picked up well from the previous day,” Muavosi said.

“One of our main weaknesses is the heat but the water breaks by FIFA referees gave us the energy to play the game.”

“ We lost the first game to a good Samoan side,” he said. 

“We have one more game against New Caledonia: It’s a must-win win game. 

“We have to win to qualify for the medals playoff and the finals,” he said.