Pacific.scoop.co.nz » Hosts Papua New Guinea Prove Too Strong For Samoa

Press Release – OFC

Papua New Guinea continued their dominance in the second period as Samoa tried their best to adjust to the man disadvantage.

12 July 2026

Hosts Papua New Guinea impressed in their opening day victory over 10-man Samoa in the evening fixture.

Already well on top, Papua New Guinea’s task was made more comfortable when Samoa were reduced to ten men late in the first-half.

By that point, they were already 2-0 up, with Jaru Eron and Toka Goro both getting on the scoresheet within two minutes of one another.

14 minutes were on the clock when Eron opened the scoring. The full-back burst forward from the left flank, beating two men before rounding goalkeeper Moemanatu Lesatele and tapping into the unguarded net.

Two minutes later and Toka Goro doubled his side’s lead. Iga Steven with good work down the left, crossing for Goro to capitalise on Samoa’s poor defensive clearance to scramble the ball home.

Captain Matthew Sopo hit the bar late in the half before Samoa picked up a red card in first-half stoppage time. Boas Tommy was played through on goal, only to be tripped on the edge of the area by Bevan Jr Kapisi, leaving the referee with little choice other than to brandish the red card.

Papua New Guinea continued their dominance in the second period as Samoa tried their best to adjust to the man disadvantage.

Just over an hour was on the clock when the home side made their pressure count. Nigel Gunemba finding Boas Tommy with a slide rule through pass, allowing Tommy to check back inside onto his right foot and fire past Lesatele.

To their credit, Samoa held firm for much of the second half. Lesatele especially produced a number of smart saves to keep the score down, as Papua New Guinea pushed to add to their tally.

The ‘keeper was unable to prevent Iga Steven adding a fourth in the 80th minute however. John Millis’ cross was met by Klivet Ronald, who couldn’t make the ideal connection, only for Steven to follow up and scramble the ball in from a couple of yards out.

The win gives the hosts a perfect start, as they now look ahead to facing New Caledonia on Wednesday.

Papua New Guinea: 4 (Jaru ERON 14, Toka GORO 16, Boas TOMMY 61, Iga STEVEN 80)

Samoa: 0

HT: 2-0

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