The Papua New Guinea U20 junior Kapuls knocked out by host Vanuatu 3-1 in Pool A to make it to the finals of the OFC U20 championship today in Vanuatu.
With an absolute showdown against the big crowd at the Port Villa stadium, the U20 men fail to make it through as they go down against the favorites on their home soil under a spot of rain that made the pitch a bit greasy underfoot.
Regardless of the weather, PNG made their first attempt seven minutes into the game when Alu AWI tries his luck from a very tight angle but can't beat Vanuatu’s goalkeeper Willy Dick was too good for the shot.
After several attempts nothing separating the sides as they went into the break scoreless.
In the second half PNG tried again in the 47th minute when Giwi Simon laces a left foot shot but it screws past the far post.
In the 47th minute, PNGs stopper Kenneth Pilailo brought down Vanuatu’s forward Abednigo Sau inside the box for an open box penalty kick.
Pilailo was red carded while Vanuatu’s striker Ronaldo Wilkins converts the penalty for the host side to take the lead in the 50th minute.
PNG was down with only 10 men
Then from kick off Vanuatu strikes again, when Bong Kalo doubles the lead with a sublime volley behind the net to extend their lead to 2-0.
PNG’s 10 men forced the Vanuatus into a strong defensive match before Jonah Iha bundles over a corner into the Vanuatu’s goal to narrow the margin to 2-1.
The 10 men pushed harder for an equalizer with Komolongs,Iha and Simon pushing to get them back into the match.
Before the final whistle Vanuatu's Jason Thomas restores the two goal cushion with another to seal the victory with a 3-1 win.
Vanuatu books their place in the semis for group A.