PORT MORESBY, July 13 – New Caledonia will take on Papua New Guinea in the women’s soccer gold medal match for the second Pacific Games running after both sides convincingly won their semifinal matches on Monday.
New Caledonia defeated Cook Islands 5-1 before PNG eased to a 3-0 win against Samoa at Bisini Grounds. A hat-trick by Christelle Wahnawe (NCL) booked her team’s place in what will be a repeat of the Noumea 2011 Pacific Games women’s soccer final. New Caledonia proved too strong and composed for Cook Islands, with Wahnawe, Myranda Rabah (NCL) and Marielle Haocas (NCL) putting them 3-0 up at half-time Wahnawe added another two in the second half before Elizabeth Harmon (COK) slammed in a late consolation goal. “We came in with confidence, but we had to get the job done and we got it done.” said Kim Maguire (NCL). In the second semifinal, goalkeeper Faanunu Ropeti (SAM) was the star of the Samoan side, making several brilliant saves to deny the PNG forwards. But first-half strikes from Georgina Kaikas, Meagen Gunemba and Ramona Padio (PNG) were enough to send the hosts through with plenty to spare. “The girls’ performance was pretty awesome today and we are looking forward to the finals against New Caledonia,” said PNG captain Deslyn Siniu. “We are very excited to meet New Caledonia again (in the final). It’s going to be a different ball game and we know they are a tough side.” PNG is a very different team to the one that beat New Caledonia four years ago, with only four players who competed at Noumea 2011 still in the team. Meanwhile, New Caledonia are focused on avenging their defeat from that tournament. “We’ve been waiting four years for this. Four years ago PNG took the gold medal from us, so they should be waiting for something pretty big,” McGuire said. The final will take place on Thursday at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium and will be preceded by the bronze medal match between Samoa and the Cook Islands. By Denyse Ealedona and Geraldine Ningis, Games News Service GNS de/gn/kd
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