PORT MORESBY, July 6 – Meagen Gunemba (PNG) scored a hat-trick as Papua New Guinea’s women’s soccer team put on a classy performance to beat Fiji 5-1 at Bisini Grounds on Monday.
It was a one-sided affair as the three-time Pacific Games gold medallists dominated the first half, with Gunemba finding the net with a penalty on 18 minutes. Five minutes before half-time, Gunemba chipped in a sneaky left footer and found the back of the net to leave Fiji’s goalkeeper Matelita Vuakoso stunned. In the second half, the crowd increased in numbers and this inspired the women in red, black and gold to increase their speed and skilful play. The petite Gunemba, from Morobe province, scored again nine minutes into the second half to complete her hat-trick. A superb left-footed strike from Ramona Padio (PNG) made the score 4-0, before striker Fatima Rama (PNG) brought the crowd to their feet again with the fifth goal of the game. The persistent young Fijian side grabbed a consolation goal through Sonali Rao (FIJ) 10 minutes from time. “Thank you to all my supporters and my teammates – because of them I scored all three goals. I’m feeling proud because we won in our own country in front of our fans,” said hat-trick hero Gunemba. “My family is not here watching me but they are all together watching me on TV.” PNG captain Deslyn Siniu told the Games News Service she was “proud” of the team’s performance. “I think the girls were nervous in the first half, because of the first time performing here, but I think they did a really good job. I am very proud of the girls,” Siniu said. PNG coach Gary Phillips (AUS) told GNS there was room for improvement from his team. “There’s a lot of expectation on this team. The first half was nowhere near the level that we can play,” said Phillips. “The second half we started to play a little better – our combination play and passing improved, but it was very difficult conditions. It was very windy, very bumpy, but in the second half we started to show signs of what we can do.” GNS ee/kd Pacific Games Media
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