Solomon Islands 2 - 1 New Caledonia

Solomon Islands and New Caledonia will both progress through to the semi-finals of the men's tournament at the Pacific Games after Solomon Islands beat the hosts 2-1 at Rivière Salée in Nouméa.



See below for all the play-by-play action.

The starting line-ups were as follows:

Solomon Islands: 1. Shadrack RAMONI (GK), 4. Tome FAISI, 5. Samson TAKAYAMA, 6. Nelson SALE, 9. Benjamin TOTORI, 13. Mostyn BEUI, 15. Seni NGAVA, 16. James NAKA, 17. Abraham INIGA, 18. Henry FA'ARODO (c), 19. Joses NAWO
Coach: Jacob MOLI

New Caledonia: 16. Rocky NYIKEINE, 2. Joel WAKANUMUNE, 5. Cesar LOLOHEA, 6. Dominique WACALIE, 7. Patrick QAEZE, 9. Iamel KABEU, 10. Pierre WAJOKA (c), 18. Emile BEARUNE, 19. Georges GOPE-FENEPEJ, 22. Olivier DOKUNENGO, 23. Jean Patrick WAKANUMUNE
Coach: Christophe COURSIMAULT

Referee: Chris KERR (NZL)
Assistant referee 1: Tevita MAKASINI (TGA)
Assistant referee 2: Glen LOCHRIE (NZL)
4th official: Averii JACQUES (TAH)

The match kicks off

3' The opening moments have mostly taken place in New Caledonia's half as Solomon Islands enjoy most of the ball

4' Benjamin Totori earns a free kick in a good position for Solomon Islands when he is brought down 25 yards out from goal

4' James Naka bends the free kick past the wall but into the arms of goalkeeper Rocky Nyikeine

6' Cesar Lolohea fires at the Solomon Islands goal from near the byline but goalkeeper Shadrack Ramoni saves at his near post

7' Henry Fa'arodo swings a dangerous free kick into the box but the New Caledonia defence clears

10' Iamel Kabeu makes his way into the Solomon Islands box and shoots but the strike is blocked

12' Totori breaks forward and picks out Abraham Iniga but the latter drags his shot across the face of goal

15' The morning's rain has returned and looks like it will fall for the entirety of this match

16' Solomon Islands have a half chance when Fa'arodo chips a free kick into the box and James Naka tries to turn it home but can't find the target

20' A cross reaches Totori at the far edge of the box but he loses balance before he can shoot

21' Dominique Wacalie slides to reach a New Caledonia cross but his effort goes over the bar

24' Goalkeeper Nyikeine comes off his line to reach a Solomon Islands long ball before James Naka

26' Benjamin Totori shows good skill on the right to cross for Solomon Islands but Nyikeine gathers the low delivery at his near post

27' Fa'arodo knocks a well-placed free kick into the New Caledonia box but Nyikeine gets a fist to it before Tome Faisi can head at goal

29' YELLOW CARD: Olivier Dokunengo is cautioned for New Caledonia

30' The resulting free kick is hit low on target by Fa'arodo and Nyikeine tips it around the post

33' Solomon Islands have had the better of the match so far and will be keen to turn their dominance into a goal

34' Abraham Iniga receives a blow to the head and has to leave the field to receive treatment but is soon back on and appears fine

37' Iamel Kabeu has a good chance for New Caledonia but slices his effort wide

40' The rain has now eased off but we are likely not to have seen the last of it

42' Totori tries to jink his way into the New Caledonia box but is crowded out by several defenders

43' Tome Faisi heads a Seni Ngava corner over the bar for Solomon Islands

44' Totori cuts onto his right on the edge of the box and blazes a shot a yard too high

45' One minute of injury time will be played

The first half comes to an end

The second half kicks off

46' Cesar Lolohea has the first chance of the half for New Caledonia when he disposses Tome Faisi and blasts a shot over the bar from close range

50' Totori gets on the end of a Fa'arodo long ball but goalkeeper Nyikeine nips it off his toes

51' Solomon Islands goalkeeper Shadrack Ramoni beats away a Joel Wakanumune shot

54' SUBSTITUTION: Georges Gope-Fenepej is replaced by Bertrand Kai for New Caledonia

55' Totori has a good chance to score for Solomon Islands but misses the target

59' A Seni Ngava corner clips the top of the New Caledonia cross bar and bounces clear

61' Substitute Bertrand Kai breaks forward and hits a shot across the face of goal from the edge of the Solomon Islands box

66' GOAL!!! Solomon Islands 1 - New Caledonia 0: The deadlock is broken when Joses Nawo sidefoots a Fa'arodo free kick home to send the Solomon Islands fans crazy

69' SUBSTITUTION: New Caledonia captain Pierre Wajoka has picked up an injury and is replaced by Arsene Boawe

74' GOAL!!! New Caledonia 1 - Solomon Islands 1: A huge roar erupts as the home side draws level, Kai breaking into the box along the byline and stabbing a shot past goalkeeper Ramoni

74' SUBSTITUTION: Goalscorer Nawo is replaced by Joe Lui for Solomon Islands

78' Cesar Lolohea tries his luck from 25 yards for New Caledonia but the shot bounces harmlessly wide

79' GOAL!!! Solomon Islands 2 - New Caledonia 1: Solomon Islands restore their lead when James Naka breaks into the box on the left and smacks the ball into the far corner

84' New Caledonia have the ball in the net when Emile Bearune forces home a corner but the goal is disallowed for an offence in the box

88' If the result stay this way, Solomon Islands will progress to the semi-finals on goal difference at the expense of Vanuatu

90' Two minutes of injury time will be played

90' + 2' SUBSTITUTION: Mostyn Beui is injured and has to be stretchered off the field. He is replaced by Joe Manu for Solomon Islands

90' + 2' YELLOW CARD: Patrick Qaeze is cautioned for New Caledonia

The final whistle is blown




Comments

Comment Guidelines: The SportsTG Network is made up of players, families and passionate sports followers like you who have a strong opinion about sport. That's great - we want you to have your say and share your thoughts with the world. However, we have a few rules that you must follow to keep it fun for all. Please don't be rude, abusive, swear or vilify others. Apart from some pretty serious sport sanctions, we also can ban you and report you if things get out of hand. So play fair and have fun, and thanks for your contribution.