Reduced to 10 players- the PNG Kapuls fought valiantly but eventually succumbed to Tahiti 3-1 in tonight’s 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Qualifier - OFC Stage 3 match at the Sir John Guise stadium, Port Moresby.
Both teams started strongly, but it was PNG who had more chances in the opening exchanges in front of a home crowd of 4, 209 spectators.
A foul on Patrick Aisa in the 9th minute presented PNG an opportunity to score and hit the lead.
Lining the ball up to take the kick just outside the penalty box, Netherlands-based striker, David Browne’s attempt just soared centimetres over the cross bar.
The next chance came when a free kick to Nigel Dabinyaba saw him opt to drive the ball low for Alwin Komolong to do the rest, but Tahiti’s goalkeeper Mikaël Roche snatched the ball up with ease.
The climax in the first half came in the 22nd minute when Browne was shown a red card by referee Salesh Chand and sent off for an elbow to the face of Taumihau Tiatia, leaving PNG to 10 players.
A shattered Browne leaving the pitch in tears fired up the home side to fight on in the match.
The first points of the match came in additional time when a perfectly placed cross from Komolong found a running Dabinyaba who leapt up and headed the ball over Roche into the nets.
This gave PNG a 1-0 lead at the break.
Into the second half is when Tahiti were finally able to capitalise on their advantage with playing numbers scoring just right before the 60 minute mark through the boot of striker, Sylvain Graglia.
With fatigue setting in on the home side, gaps started to appear in PNG’s defence and Graglia put his side in front in the 85th minute after slotting the ball past Ronald Warisan for his second of the night.
Teaonui Tehau put the nail in the coffin scoring in the 93rd minute to seal the win and move Tahiti three points clear at the top of Group B.