Kulas Play Cooks In Quarters
The national women’s football team is going to play Cook Islands in the third quarter-final of the OFC Women’s Nations Cup at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva on Sunday.
The Sofi Diyalowai captained- side known as the Digicel Kulas remained unbeaten to top Group C followed by Solomon Islands and New Caledonia.
But it was cliffhanger finish in Group play when New Caledonia held Solomon Islands 2-2 in a thriller. The result sees both teams qualify for the quarter-finals.
However, Vanuatu, who had a last-minute penalty saved against Tahiti in their Group B is eliminated from the competition.
Despite being level on points, goal difference, goals scored and goals conceded, Vanuatu was eliminated by virtue of a worse fair play record than Group A’s Tonga.
New Caledonia head coach Michel Berbeche said although he wanted a win staying in the competition was worth it.
“I would have loved for it to have been 3-1 or 3-2 at the end of the game but I am just so happy that we are qualified.”
Solomon Islands head coach and former star striker Batram Suri said he was happy with the players’ performance.”
“They worked so hard although the tempo went down in the second-half. We were 2-1 down close to full-time but still the girls lifted their performance.”
Vanuatu head coach Jean Robert Yelou after his side’s 0-0 draw with Tahiti urged his players to take on the positives despite being bundled out of the competition.
“That’s how football is,” he said.
“I am very positive of this game. This game is one of the best games we have played for the whole 90 minutes. I am very proud of the girls.
“We always try our best to build from the back and for me I am proud of the performance.”
While Vanuatu exit the eight qualifying teams; group winners Samoa, Papua New Guinea and Fiji; runners-up Cook Islands, Tahiti and Solomon Islands and highest ranked third-place finishers Tonga and New Caledonia advance to the quarter-finals to be played on the weekend.
Quarter-final fixtures
Saturday
4.00pm Samoa v New Caledonia
7.30pm Papua New Guinea v Tonga
Sunday
4.00pm Fiji v Cook Islands
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