Papua New Guinea achieved one of the quickest goals in the history of international Beach Soccer today, marking an outstanding beginning to the OFC Beach Soccer Men’s Nations Cup in Honiara by defeating Fiji 8-6.
Despite having no prior international experience, the Papua New Guinea team, composed of players from Fisherman Island near Port Moresby, was expected to face challenges against the more seasoned Fijian squad. However, right from the kick-off, Demasol Manama struck the ball into the net just one and a half seconds into the match.
Two minutes later, Ellygia Benard doubled the score, making it 2-0, and Fiji quickly found themselves down by three when Goiravana Kala netted a freekick shortly thereafter. Fiji responded with a goal from Adriu Nabose in the 6th minute, but Papua New Guinea was quick to retaliate with another powerful free kick from Kala in the 9th minute, widening their lead.
In the final minute of the first period, Papua New Guinea’s goalkeeper Kopi Samuel’s error allowed Fiji to score their second goal, leaving the score at 4-2 as they ended the period.
As the rain began to fall in the second period, the pace slowed, but Papua New Guinea quickly added to their tally with Benard’s second goal. Fiji then missed a penalty kick when France Catarogo sent the shot over the bar. Following another defensive lapse, Fiji’s Steven Dean reduced the deficit to two goals in the 20th minute.
Raven Samuel restored Papua New Guinea’s three-goal cushion just a minute later; however, Fiji managed to pull back with a well-executed free kick shortly before the period ended. As the rain continued to fall, Papua New Guinea extended their lead with Joe Vere’s goal six minutes before the game concluded.
Fiji pressed hard and scored twice in rapid succession, narrowing the scoreline to just one goal. But as they sought an equalizer, Papua New Guinea capitalized on a chance to seal their victory with Ellygia Benard completing his hat-trick for the eighth goal. Fiji was without their captain Tevita Waranivalu and Madhwan Gounder, who arrived late in Honiara, but the result stood as a well-deserved victory for Babob Labong’s team.