Papua New Guinea 4 - 0 Cook Islands

Papua New Guinea 4 - 0 Cook Islands


Papua New Guinea have beaten Cook Islands 4-0 in their men's Group B match at Stade Boewa in Boulari on day one of the XIV Pacific Games.


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

The starting line-ups were as follows:

Papua New Guinea: 1. Lesly KALAI (GK), 3. Valentine NELSON, 4. Cyril MUTA, 7. Gari MOKA, 10. Reginald DAVANI, 12. David MUTA (c), 13. Andrew LEPANI, 14. Neil HANS, 16. Jeremy YASASA, 17. Mauri WASI, 18. Eric KOMENG
Coach: Frank FARINA

Cook Islands: 1. Tony JAMIESON (GK) (c), 2. John PAREANGA, 3. Nathan TISAM, 4. Roger MANUEL, 7. Joseph NGAUORA, 8. Grover HARMON, 9. Campbell BEST, 11. Taylor SAGHABI, 16. Mii JOSEPH, 17. Tahiri ELIKANA, 18. Geongsa TISAM
Coach: Maurice TILLOTSON

The match kicks off

1' Papua New Guinea have the early possession and go straight on the attack

3' Papua New Guinea swing a free kick into the box from a dangerous position but the Cook Islands defence scrambles clear

5' Taylor Saghabi tries to get on the end of a through ball in the Cook Islands' first attack but it rolls out

5' Cooks goalkeeper Tony Jamieson races from his line to deal with a Papua New Guinea attack

9' Neil Hans curls in a corner for Papua New Guinea that eludes Jamieson and has to be headed out from under the crossbar

14' Papua New Guinea are enjoying the better of the match but, aside from that Hans corner, have not created many opportunities

17' YELLOW CARD: John Pareanga is cautioned for Cook Islands after bringing down Reg Davani on the edge of the box

18' GOAL!!! Papua New Guinea 1 - Cook Islands 0: Neil Hans steps up to take the free kick and hits it low to Jamieson's right

25' Hans tries to score his second of the morning when he has two attempts at volleys on the left hand side of the box but the first is blocked and the second sails well over the bar

26' Cook Islands are struggling to string meaningful possession together but determined defending is keeping them in the match

28' Cook Islands finally win a free kick in a useful area but Grover Harmon does not strike the ball cleanly and it bounces wide

31' Reg Davani and Gari Moka almost unlock the Cooks defence with a neat interchange but the move breaks down

34' A healthy crowd has gathered to watch this Group B clash and they are being treated to an entertaining match so far

35' Jamieson again has to charge out of his box but deals well with the situation

38' Papua New Guinea fullback Andrew Lepani overlaps well on the right hand side of the box but his lofted cross drifts too far

39' Hans goes even closer to his second when captain David Muta crosses deep after the best move of the match but Hans' volley fizzes narrowly wide

41' Jamieson makes a fine close-range save from a Eric Komeng side-footed effort

42' Papua New Guinea are continuing to dominate the play and the Cook Islands will be relieved if they can make it into the sheds at 1-0

The first half comes to an end

The second half kicks off

46' The second half has begun in similar fashion to the first - with Papua New Guinea on the attack

50' GOAL!!! Papua New Guinea 2 - Cook Islands 0: Hans finally has his second goal and this one arrives in an almost identical way as the first. He again hits a low free kick past Jamieson but this time it is from even further out, around 30 yards

53' SUBSTITUTION: The impressive Reg Davani is replaced by Michael Foster for Papua New Guinea

55' GOAL!!! Papua New Guinea 3 - Cook Islands 0: Skipper David Muta slides home Papua New Guinea's third from near the penalty spot

57' Cook Islands coach Maurice Tillotson will be hoping the floodgates don't open now

58' SUBSTITUTION: Grover Harmon is replaced by Nikorima Te Miha for Cook Islands

59' Papua New Guinea have a great chance to extend their lead when Eric Komeng breaks down the right but he chooses to shoot instead of finding one of three unmarked team mates in the box and Jamieson saves

65' SUBSTITUTION: Gari Moki is replaced by Nathaniel Lepani for Papua New Guinea

67' Cook Islands have their best chance of the match when Campbell Best gets on the end of a cross but can't get his effort on target with just goalkeeper Lesly Kalai to beat

68' SUBSTITUTION: Roger Manuel is replaced by John Quuano for Cook Islands

74' Eric Komeng tries a cheeky chip from the right hand side of the box but Jamieson acrobatically tips it over the bar

74' SUBSTITUTION: Neil Hans is replaced by Tonga Esira for Papua New Guinea

77' SUBSTITUTION: Campbell Best is replaced by Nicholas Funnell for Cook Islands

81' Michael Foster is put through to go one-on-one with Jamieson but stabs a tame effort wide

83' Cook Islands have another good chance through substitute Nicholas Funnell but he slices his long-range effort wide

85' GOAL!!! Papua New Guinea 4 - Cook Islands 0: Another goal arrives when substitute Nathaniel Lepani has the simple task of tapping in Eric Komeng's pullback

The final whistle is blown




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