Poida's Poise Secures Vanuatu Fifth Place At OFC Women's Nations Cup 2025
Vanuatu searched for a second goal, dominating possession and time in Tahitis half, with the excellent Rita Solomon setting the tempo from midfield. But they were frustrated by Tahitis compacted defence, which was well-marshalled by Gwendoline …
14 July 2025
Having beaten hosts Fiji in their final group game and only narrowly missing out on the semi-finals, Vanuatu came into tonight's Fifth place play-off with momentum on their side.
Vanuatu had the ball in the back of the net in the sixth minute, but the goal was disallowed after the ball was judged to have been kicked out of the hands of Tahitian goalkeeper Camille Andre, Leimata Simon bearing down on goal but only able to hit at Andre, then the crossbar, with the rebound bundled by Angelina Poida over the line via the goalkeeper's grasp.
Undeterred, Vanuatu tried again, with Simon the target. The sharpshooter looking to continue her record of scoring in every appearance this tournament, and the Tahiti defence content to absorb the pressure and try to catch Vanuatu out on a quick counterattack.
Some individual brilliance and flair from Simon almost paid off for the striker, as she attempted to juggle past Julienne Naomi and win a free kick in the process, but she couldn't get the ball back down quick enough to challenge Andre.
But Vanuatu's breakthrough came in a moment of magic from Poida in the 28th minute. Latching onto to a long ball from Willine Viti on the right, her first touch deftly took her away from a scrambling Andre, giving her time to set up for an emphatic finish for her second.
Vanuatu searched for a second goal, dominating possession and time in Tahiti's half, with the excellent Rita Solomon setting the tempo from midfield. But they were frustrated by Tahiti's compacted defence, which was well-marshalled by Gwendoline Fournier.
Tahiti came agonizingly close to snatching a dramatic equalizer deep in added time when a Tahitian corner was only cleared as far as Kohai Mai, who quickly unleashed a shot goalwards, but Vanuatu's Amelia Reddy was level to it, securing her third clean sheet of the competition, Vanuatu's third win, and their best-ever finish in the OFC Women's Nations Cup.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
Solomon Islands Make History By Qualifying For Maiden OFC Women's Nations Cup 2025 Final
Press Release – Oceania Football Confederation Despite defeat, Samoa will have the chance to claim third when they face Fiji prior to Saturday's final between the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. The Solomon Islands have defeated Samoa 2-1 at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva to reach the final of the OFC Women's Nations Cup for the first time. Samoa hit the front early on, but two goals in the space of 12 minutes completed a first half comeback for the Solomon Islands, who held on to seal victory in Wednesday's second semi-final. It sets up a final against Papua New Guinea back at HFC Bank Stadium on Saturday night, where the Solomon Islands will be hoping to lift the continental crown for the first time. The Solomon Islands were victors when the two nations met in the third-place play-off at the 2022 OFC Women's Nations Cup but were dealt an early blow when defender Sharoly Saeni was forced off inside the first six minutes. It meant Jacklyn Ikama came on a lot earlier than she would have expected, and Samoa took advantage of her inability to adapt straight away. Oteta Kitonia latched onto a well-weighted delivery into the box and calmly slotted the ball past Zainab Donga to give Samoa the lead in the 14th minute, scoring her second goal of the tournament, and her nation's first ever in an OFC Women's Nations Cup semi-final. That sparked the Solomon Islands into gear though, and it didn't take them long to get their dangerous frontline trio of Ileen Pegi, Madeline Arukau, and Lorina Solosaia going. Just six minutes later, the Solomon Islands were back level through a moment of magic from captain Pegi. She picked up the ball down the left-hand side of the box, before cutting inside and curling a delightful right-footed effort into the top-right corner of the net. The short comeback was complete in the 33rd minute, when Solosaia and Almah Gogoni scrapped hard in the box, forcing Samoan defender Breanna Kitiona to nudge the ball into her own net. Ahead on the scoreboard, momentum was well and truly in the Solomon Islands favour, and they had chances to add a third goal before the break, Arukau notably poking an effort into the side-netting. Arukau continued to probe in the second half, first forcing Xeyana Salanoa to rush off her line for a crucial block, before forcing the goalkeeper into a save at her near post either side of the hour mark. Samoa controlled more of the ball as the contest progressed in search of a way back into the match but continued to struggle for any clear goal-scoring chances. That forced Coach Juan Chang Urrea to ring the changes, injecting Alisa Tuatagaloa and Gracie Va'afusuaga into the action. An error from Donga in goal was the closest Samoa came, but a defender was on hand to scurry the ball clear from danger for the Solomon Islands, and they held out through the final ten minutes, and seven minutes of injury-time for an historic win. Despite defeat, Samoa will have the chance to claim third when they face Fiji prior to Saturday's final between the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
Solomon Islands Make History By Qualifying For Maiden OFC Women's Nations Cup 2025 Final
The Solomon Islands have defeated Samoa 2-1 at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva to reach the final of the OFC Women's Nations Cup for the first time. Samoa hit the front early on, but two goals in the space of 12 minutes completed a first half comeback for the Solomon Islands, who held on to seal victory in Wednesday's second semi-final. It sets up a final against Papua New Guinea back at HFC Bank Stadium on Saturday night, where the Solomon Islands will be hoping to lift the continental crown for the first time. The Solomon Islands were victors when the two nations met in the third-place play-off at the 2022 OFC Women's Nations Cup but were dealt an early blow when defender Sharoly Saeni was forced off inside the first six minutes. It meant Jacklyn Ikama came on a lot earlier than she would have expected, and Samoa took advantage of her inability to adapt straight away. Oteta Kitonia latched onto a well-weighted delivery into the box and calmly slotted the ball past Zainab Donga to give Samoa the lead in the 14th minute, scoring her second goal of the tournament, and her nation's first ever in an OFC Women's Nations Cup semi-final. That sparked the Solomon Islands into gear though, and it didn't take them long to get their dangerous frontline trio of Ileen Pegi, Madeline Arukau, and Lorina Solosaia going. Just six minutes later, the Solomon Islands were back level through a moment of magic from captain Pegi. She picked up the ball down the left-hand side of the box, before cutting inside and curling a delightful right-footed effort into the top-right corner of the net. The short comeback was complete in the 33rd minute, when Solosaia and Almah Gogoni scrapped hard in the box, forcing Samoan defender Breanna Kitiona to nudge the ball into her own net. Ahead on the scoreboard, momentum was well and truly in the Solomon Islands favour, and they had chances to add a third goal before the break, Arukau notably poking an effort into the side-netting. Arukau continued to probe in the second half, first forcing Xeyana Salanoa to rush off her line for a crucial block, before forcing the goalkeeper into a save at her near post either side of the hour mark. Samoa controlled more of the ball as the contest progressed in search of a way back into the match but continued to struggle for any clear goal-scoring chances. That forced Coach Juan Chang Urrea to ring the changes, injecting Alisa Tuatagaloa and Gracie Va'afusuaga into the action. An error from Donga in goal was the closest Samoa came, but a defender was on hand to scurry the ball clear from danger for the Solomon Islands, and they held out through the final ten minutes, and seven minutes of injury-time for an historic win. Despite defeat, Samoa will have the chance to claim third when they face Fiji prior to Saturday's final between the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Scoop
Papua New Guinea Defeat Fiji And Will Chase Back To Back Titles In Suva
Press Release – Oceania Football Confederation The return of midfield maestro Ramona Padio, absent during last months friendlies between the sides in Port Moresby, proved influential. Papua New Guinea are one win away from defending their OFC Women's Nations Cup title, following a hard-fought 2-1 victory over hosts Fiji in a gripping semi-final at HFC Stadium in Suva. Ericson Komeng's side enjoyed long spells of dominance and showed their cohesion, with seven players from Hekari United Women's FC featuring in the starting XI. Marie Kaipu posed a constant threat up front, supported by Michaelyne Butubu and Keren Kalapai. Fiji, in contrast, looked to exploit the pace of Narieta Leba on the counter. The return of midfield maestro Ramona Padio, absent during last month's friendlies between the sides in Port Moresby, proved influential. In the 26th minute, her pinpoint cross was headed home by Kalapai to open the scoring. Padio nearly doubled the lead four minutes later, denied only by a superb near-post save from 18-year-old Fiji goalkeeper Emily Esposito. But Padio didn't have to wait long to get on the scoresheet, just three minutes later, she unleashed a powerful 30-metre effort that bounced awkwardly in front of Esposito, who couldn't keep it out. Fiji hit back immediately. Straight from the restart, a long ball released Leba, who regained her footing after stumbling and rifled a right-footed strike past Lavinia Hola to halve the deficit. Chances followed either side of the break for Fiji as they desperately sought an equaliser. Leba squared a dangerous ball across goal for Trina Davis, who couldn't connect with the net beckoning. Moments into the second half, Cema Nasau, quiet in the first half, forced a brilliant save from Hola at close range. Fiji coach Angeline Chua made a bold call at halftime, replacing Davis with 14-year-old Adi Reva, but PNG's experience and control shone through. They lifted their intensity, dictated the tempo, and saw out the match with composure. Captain Maria Veronika cleared off the line for Fiji with 20 minutes remaining, and on attack Fiji threw everything at the PNG defence in the final minutes but couldn't find the magic touch needed to draw level and force extra time. It's heartbreak for Fiji—once again falling 2-1 to PNG, just as in the 2022 final. The hosts will now turn their focus to Saturday's third-place playoff, while Papua New Guinea await either Solomon Islands or Samoa in the final. PAPUA NEW GUINEA 2 (Keren KALAPAI 26' Ramona PADIO 33')
