PNG KAPULS SUCCUMB TO THE SOLOMON ISLANDS IN FIFA QUALIFIERS

By Lethisa KOLOKOL

With New Caledonia and Fiji securing first and second place in the group standings, qualifying for the Quarter finals, in the 2025 FIFA Oceania Qualifiers, the Papua New Guinea Kapuls lost their momentum to fight on the field, succumbing to a 2-1 loss to the Solomon Islands yesterday at the PNG Football Stadium.

Although the PNG side showed resilience in their attacks against the Solomon defense side, their lack of coordination combined with a strong defensive play from the Solomon Islands side ultimately sealed their fate.

In the 40th minute, the Solomon Islands, Junior David, who was also later named player of the match scored the first Solomon Islands goal, that remained unanswered by the Home side till the halftime whistle blew.

The Solomon Islands showed brilliant ball plays in the second half and excellent defense, with M Lea’alafa striking passed the defense of PNG Keeper, David Tomare in what looked like an offside play but was deemed a goal by the referee.

Going into 2 minutes of extra with what looked like a gloomy day for the Kapuls fans, Tommy Semmy bagged a beautiful header to bring the full time score, Solomon Islands, 2, PNG Kapuls, 1.

The Kapuls also received 4 yellow cards in the whole duration of the match, with the visitors just receiving one.

In the post-match interview, Coach Felipe Vega Arango Alonso said that the boys were down on moral when they saw New Caledonia and Fiji drew, but he reminded them that, that was not an excuse, reminding the Kapuls that this match was for the FIFA ranking.

Coach added that his boys were awful in the first half of the match, he hoped to see improvement in the second, however there was none either, the Solomon Islands were the better side.

Arango added PNG is now at 171 in the FIFA ranking but that will drop further down now that they have lost on home ground.