Digicel national men’s football head coach Flemming Serrit­slev is backing the Digicel Kulas win tomorrow’s final against fa­vourites in Papua New Guinea in the OFC Women’s Nations Cup at the HFC Bank Stadium, Suva.

The 75-year-old Dane applauded the performance of the Kulas in their 3-1 semifinal win over Solomon Islands on Wednesday night.

The final against PNG is set at 7.30pm.

“They played really well. As a team, they were good,” Serritslev said.

“They went out and put the pressure on Solomon Islands.

“Solomons never got the time and space to establish their combination game, so these women played really well.”

Serritslev also anticipated a PNG en­counter by the side who has been im­pressive.

PNG won 3-0 against Samoa in the first semifinal after a penalty shoot-out 6-5 win against Tonga in the quarter­final.

“PNG also played well; they were in trouble against Tonga but got out of a penalty shoot-out.

“I believe we will be able to win against them but it will be a very tough match.

“Both teams are good in attack. You have to notice that they scored three goals against us on penalties, no single goal in open play.

“Our women have played well from match to match in the tournament.”

Kulas head coach Lisa Cole added that some outstanding performers were Trina Davis, Kolora Likuculacula, Soft Diyalowai and Cerna Nasau who was awarded the player of the match for the third consecutive match.

Nasau scored a double in the first half and Luisa Tamanitoakula’s second­half finish secured the semi-final tri­umph for them.

Ileen Pegi’s penalty gave the Solomon Islanders their lone goal.

In a post-match interview with OFC Media Cole said: “It is going to take a team effort (to win the final) which has been the case the whole tournament.

“Really, everybody needs to give what they can, stay with the gameplan, make sure they know their role, do their role well and make sure they keep their agreements.

“If we do those things well we are going to be a tough team to beat but we have also got to defend really well against a good PNG squad.”

Solomon Islands head coach Batram Suri said: “We are underdogs and we have come this far, so we are proud and I think the players are happy about where we are now.

“It is a stepping stone for us now es­pecially as a country that were bottom of the ranking. So I am proud of the result but not happy with it.”

The winner of the OFC Women’s na­tions Cup will also have the chance to advance to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 by entering the play-off tournament hosted in Auckland and Hamilton, New Zealand, from February 17-23, next year.

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