Solomon Islands Make History By Qualifying For Maiden OFC Women's Nations Cup 2025 Final
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.
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