Fiji secured its second draw in the MSG Prime Ministers Cup held in Honiara, Solomon Islands, by battling back to hold Papua New Guinea to a 1-1 draw. The team, coached by Marika Rodu, had previously drawn its opening match against Vanuatu with the same scoreline.
Papua New Guinea took the lead early in the match with veteran player Raymond Gunemba scoring in the 23rd minute. However, Fiji found its equalizer in the 73rd minute, thanks to the efforts of Sairusi Nalaubu. A strategic play developed when Thomas Dunn delivered a precise pass to Christopher Wasasala, who skillfully maneuvered around the goalkeeper before setting up Nalaubu for an easy tap-in. With this goal, Nalaubu now has a total of two goals in the tournament.
The match encountered a brief interruption due to severe weather conditions, as thunderstorms and lightning halted play for 15 minutes. Fortunately, once the weather cleared, the remaining six minutes of normal time, along with additional time, were played to completion.
Overall, Fiji’s resilience in coming from behind demonstrates their fighting spirit in the tournament, and fans can remain hopeful for a stronger performance in the upcoming matches. With two draws already under their belt, the team is clearly capable of competing and adapting under pressure.
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