Fiji look set for a place in the Semi Final after Tonga blowout
Fiji had no problems overcoming Tonga in the second match of Group B of the OFC Women’s Nations Cup
Fiji had no problems overcoming Tonga in the second match of Group B of the OFC Women’s Nations Cup and are through to the Semi Finals, unless the Cook Islands can pull off a historic upset against New Zealand later on Thursday.
(Tonga – Fiji 0-12)
It only took six minutes for Fiji to open the scoring as Luisa Tamanitoakula was the last Fijian to touch a corner headed goalwards by Cema Nasau. Five minutes later Tamanitoakula had her second from a shot outside the Tonga box.
In the 13th minute Nasau got her first and Fiji’s third after blowing a few good chances earlier when she made no mistake one-on-one with Carollyne Fotu in the Tonga goal.
Young Trina Davis and Sofia Diyalowai added their contributions after 21 and 22 minutes respectively, while Tamanitoakula secured her hattrick in the 24th minute with a cross that went all the way into the goal.
On the half-hour mark, Diyalowai did a “mini-Maradona” as she dribbled her way through the Tonga defence to add Fiji’s seventh goal.
Tamanitoakula would get her fourth in the 36th minute after a Trina Davis cross found her feet.
Just before half time, Nasau got her second of the game to make it 9-0 to Fiji going into the dressing rooms.
And on the other side of the break, Nasau would get her deserved hattrick, after Daviana Vaka missed a sitter alone with Fiji goalkeeper Adi Tuwai for Tonga. Nasau was given the ball on the edge of the box and a smart finish saw Fiji go into double digits just six minutes into the second half.
The game then went very quiet as Fiji eased off the gas and Tonga had a few good chances, including Malia Tongia’s miss on open goal.
She ran through, got the ball over Tuwai who was outside of her box, but Tongia was stressed just enough by an onrushing Fiji defender that her shot rolled inches wide of the target.
Some more quiet play where Fiji had chances but just were sloppy with their finishing followed, before Trina Davis netted a brace nine minutes before full time. She cut inside from the left and smashed the ball into the back of the net.
Just as the match was about to enter added time Diyalowai got her hattrick as well. She soared above everyone else in the box on a free kick and headed the ball in for the final goal of the match.
An impressive win for Fiji that will most likely see them advance to the Semi Finals while Tonga will play the Cook Islands on the final day to see who will avoid ending last.
