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ABC News
9 hours ago
- Sport
- ABC News
History for Solomon Islands as they qualify for their first ever OFC Women's Nations Cup Final
The 2025 OFC Women's Nations Cup final will be an all Melanesian affair, with the defending champions Papua New Guinea taking on Solomon Islands who are through to the decider for the first time in their history. PNG made it to the final once again after a hard fought 2-1 semi-final win over the host nation Fiji, with all the goals coming in the first half. Post-match PNG's winning coach Ericson Ko-meng, was full of praise for his team's leaders, Ramona Padio and Marie Kaipu, while Fiji's Angeline Chua said her team could not have given any more. The second semi-final turned out to be a mirror image of the first, with Solomon Islands defeating Samoa 2-1 and again all the goals came before half-time. After the game Solomons' coach Moses Toata could not have been happier, and despite their loss Samoa's coach, Juan Chang Urea, sees a bright future ahead for his young team.
Scoop
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Resolute Tahitian Defence Secures Draw Setting Up Exciting Final Day Of Group A Action
Ericson Komeng's side knew that a win today would see them become the first side to make the 2025 OFC Women's Nations Cup knockout stages, while a Tahiti victory would see them go into the final day of group play leading Group A and the defending champions with work to do against Cook Islands. Komeng made two changes to his side, with Marie Kaipu ruled out altogether with an arm injury, while Keren Kalapai was on the bench, as Nenny Elipas and Charlie Yanding started. Xavier Samin, meanwhile, made three changes, with Tihiura Tahutini, Kohai Mai and Anavai Taaviri getting their first starts of the tournament while Julienne Naomi, Vahinetua Tuiho and Hereana Brothers dropped to the bench. The opening half an hour proved an evenly matched affair, with Tahiti's defence, expertly organized by captain Gwendoline Fournier, refusing to let the star-studded PNG attack settle into their rhythm by crowding the holders out of their penalty area who were missing the relentless threat of their Talisman Marie Kaipu. As in their opening game, Haranui Le Gayic posed a constant threat from the Tahitian midfield, with her deft touches and probing runs looking the most likely source of a Tahitian breakthrough - and it came just before half time. Le Gayic broke away on a rare Tahitian counterattack to win a penalty for her side, drawing the foul in the penalty area from Raynata Samuel. Kiani Wong stepped up to fire home past Lavina Hola to see Tahiti take the lead into half time. Unsurprisingly, PNG came out swinging in the second half, and their determination paid off almost instantly. Combining well with Padio, Charlie Yanding found herself in a rare patch of space in the Tahitian penalty area with time to set herself up for the shot, but Camille Andre was equal to the danger, and it proved a simple stop. PNG secured their equalizer in the 51st minute. Padio floated over an inch-perfect corner to be met by Samuel, whose powerful header left Andre with no chance. Parity restored and a renewed sense of confidence PNG went in search of a winner, with their high backline effectively patrolling the halfway line and seeing the remainder of PNG camped out in the Tahitian half. But despite the spatial dominance, Papua New Guinea were unable to find the final cutting edge, and Tahiti's resolute defending secured both a vital point and an exciting conclusion to the Group A action on Thursday. HT: 0-1
Scoop
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Marie Kaipu Masterclass Secures Opening Win For Holders Despite Late Scare From Samoa's Salanoa Sisters
The second Group A match of the day was always set to be a tantalizing encounter, with the Papua New Guinea side stacked with talent from the OFC Women's Champions League finalists Hekari Womens FC, while Samoa is a federation on the rise with their U-17s preparing for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup™ in Morocco in October. The game began perhaps unsurprisingly with Papua New Guinea talisman Marie Kaipu in the thick of the action. After being cut down by Samoa captain Alisa Tuatagaloa and spending a lengthy period on the sidelines receiving treatment, Samoa were unable to utilise their numerical advantage. As if to underline her importance to the side, Kaipu was immediately in the thick of several waves of Papua New Guinea's attacks after re-entering the pitch. She first reannounced herself by bursting down the right wing to cut back and then finding herself free of the Samoan defence but not able to keep her footing before setting up to shoot. She thought she'd opened the scoring in the 17th minute, with her shot rippling the wrong side of the Samoan goal net. Kaipu's persistence paid off, however, as she opened the scoring with a brilliant solo effort. Beginning the Papua New Guinea attack after pouncing on a loose ball, she teed up a tidy one-two, before outpacing Tuatagaloa to receive the final pass and then round Samoa goalkeeper Kamy Anaya before tapping home into an empty net. PNG were unfortunate not to double their lead minutes later, with Keren Kalapai's denied by the upright. Samoa managed to shake off the shock of going behind trying to force an equaliser, with Kitiona tearing down the left wing. Papua New Guinea responded with a period of sustained pressure, led by 2022 golden boot winner and captain Ramona Padio, who had a golden opportunity to double PNG's lead in the 26th minute, after finding herself in space near the byline. PNG thought they had a second goal moments later, again traced the feet of Padio, who played Kaipu in the box making no mistake finishing, but was denied by the offside flag. Samoa came back into the game after the cooling break with renewed energy. Their endeavours almost paid off, as Xevani Salanoa launched a counterattack down the right wing shortly after the restart. She found Oteta Kitiona in the box with a low cross, but the latter was unable to convert. The pendulum swung back Papua New Guinea's way just before half time when Marie Kaipu doubled PNG's lead in the 40th minute. After being played in by Michaelyne Butubu, as with the first goal Kaipu was able to shrug off the attentions of Tuatagaloa to find herself one on one with Anaya. She coolly curled her second of the game into the bottom corner of the Samoa goal. Kaipu had the chance to secure a first half hat trick, racing clear of the Samoan defence just before the stroke of half time, but instead of shooting herself opted to lay off to Butubu, whose shot was well dealt with by Anaya, tipping the ball onto the crossbar. If the first half was dominated by Marie Kaipu, the second was the Salanoa sisters' show, with goalkeeper Xeyana Salanoa brought on at half time. While Papua New Guinea dominated the game, having had the lion's share of chances, Samoa equally grew into the game to frustrate the holders, who could easily have had five or six more goals. Samoa's persistence paid off, pulling back a late goal to up the pressure on the holders through Xevani Salanoa, who looped a header over an on-rushing Lavina Hola. Sensing the possibility of a surprise result, Samoa committed forwards again, feeding Salanoa who found herself a marked woman by the Papua New Guinea defence. At the other end of the pitch, a wonderful one handed save from the goalkeeper Salanoa to deny a last-ditch PNG attack saw Samoa finish their opening game of the OFC Women's Nations Cup 2025 without the win they hoped for, but much to be galvanized by. HT: 2-0
