Football at the 2015 Pacific Games – Men's tournament

The 2015 Pacific Games men's football tournament was the 14th edition of the Pacific Games men's football tournament. The men's football tournament was held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea between 3–17 July 2015 as part of the 2015 Pacific Games. The tournament was age-restricted and open to men's under-23 national teams only.[1]

Main article: Football at the 2015 Pacific Games
2015 Pacific Games
men's football tournament
Tournament details
Host country Papua New Guinea
CityPort Moresby
Dates3–17 July 2015
Teams8 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)2 (in 1 host city)
Final positions
Champions New Caledonia (7th title)
Runners-up Tahiti
Third place Papua New Guinea
Fourth place Fiji
Tournament statistics
Matches played16
Goals scored142 (8.88 per match)
Top scorer(s) Jean Kaltack (17 goals)
2015 OFC Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
Final positions
Champions Fiji (1st title)
Runners-up Vanuatu
Third place Papua New Guinea
Fourth place New Zealand
Tournament statistics
Matches played15
Goals scored138 (9.2 per match)
Top scorer(s) Jean Kaltack (17 goals)

The tournament also doubled as the 7th edition of the OFC Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, the quadrennial international tournament organised by the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) to determine which men's under-23 national teams from Oceania qualify for the Olympic football tournament. A separate qualifying tournament was initially set to take place at Tonga between 2–12 December 2015.[2] However, it was later decided to absorb the qualifying tournament into the Pacific Games, as the New Zealand team participated for the first time in the Pacific Games men's football tournament.[3][4]

As some of the participating teams are not members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and thus ineligible for the Olympics, there were two separate knockout stages, one for Olympic qualifying where the winner qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics men's football tournament,[5] and another for determining the Pacific Games medalists.[6]

New Caledonia won the Pacific Games gold medal, while Fiji qualified for the Olympic football tournament for the first time after winning the OFC Olympic qualifying tournament.[7]

Teams

A total of eight teams participated in the tournament.[6]

Team Appearance Previous best performance
 Fiji12thGold medal (1991, 2003)
FS Micronesia2ndGroup stage (2003)
 New Caledonia14thGold medal (1963, 1969, 1971, 1987, 2007, 2011)
 New Zealand1stDebut
 Papua New Guinea (hosts)13thBronze medal (1969, 1987)
 Solomon Islands12thSilver medal (1991, 1995, 2011)
 Tahiti14thGold medal (1966, 1975, 1979, 1983, 1995)
 Vanuatu14thSilver medal (1971)

Eligibility status

The teams are eligible for one or both knockout stages depending on their affiliation.[6]

Team Affiliated to Eligible for
OFC FIFA IOC Pacific Games Council Olympic Qualifying knockout stage Pacific Games knockout stage
 FijiYesYesYesYesYesYes
FS MicronesiaNoNoYesYesNoYes
 New CaledoniaYesYesNoYesNoYes
 New ZealandYesYesYesNoYesNo
 Papua New GuineaYesYesYesYesYesYes
 Solomon IslandsYesYesYesYesYesYes
 TahitiYesYesNoYesNoYes
 VanuatuYesYesYesYesYesYes

Venues
Port Moresby
Bisini Sports Complex Sir Hubert Murray Stadium
9.471732°S 147.200810°E / -9.471732; 147.200810 (Bisini Field) 9.466323°S 147.156674°E / -9.466323; 147.156674 (Sir Hubert Murray Stadium)

Squads
Main article: Football at the 2015 Pacific Games – Men's team squads

Group stage

The draw was held on 1 June 2015 at the OFC Headquarters at Auckland.[8] The eight teams were drawn into two groups of four.

For the OFC Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, only the five teams (Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu) which are FIFA and IOC members were eligible. The top two IOC member teams of each group advanced to the Olympic Qualifying semi-finals.

For the Pacific Games Men's Football Tournament, the top two teams of each group advanced to the Pacific Games semi-finals with the exception of New Zealand, who were not eligible as they are not a Pacific Games Council member.

All times UTC+10.[9]

Group A
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Tahiti 3 2 1 0 32 1 +31 7 Pacific Games knockout stage
2  Fiji 3 1 2 0 39 1 +38 5 Olympic Qualifying and Pacific Games knockout stage
3  Vanuatu 3 1 1 1 48 3 +45 4 Olympic Qualifying knockout stage
4 FS Micronesia 3 0 0 3 0 114 −114 0
Source: OFC
FS Micronesia 0–30 Tahiti
Report Maihi  2', 34', 46', 52', 86'
Hauata  9', 48', 90+6'
Tehuritaua  12', 20', 40', 45+2'
Tehina  24', 38', 49', 54'
Petigas  34'
Tihoni  50', 51', 90+1'
Tissot  60', 64', 66', 75', 82', 85'
Taupotini  63'
Tauira  90', 90+2', 90+4'
Bisini Sports Complex, Port Moresby
Referee: Ichikawa Polovili (Tonga)[10]
Fiji 1–1 Vanuatu
Chand  63' Report J. Kaltack  20'
Bisini Sports Complex, Port Moresby
Referee: Gerald Oiaka (Solomon Islands)[10]
FS Micronesia 0–38 Fiji
Report Wasasala  2', 6', 27', 29', 30'
 36', 52', 56', 65'
Tuivuna  4', 9', 28', 43', 45'
 45+4', 70', 85', 90+3', 90+6'
Verevou  8', 26', 40', 45+2', 45+3'
Qasevakatini  10', 12', 24', 59', 67'
Prasad  21', 63', 64', 75', 80'
Waranaivalu  47'
Nawakula  79', 88'
Nakalevu  90+5'
Bisini Sports Complex, Port Moresby
Referee: Hillary Ani (Papua New Guinea)[11]
Tahiti 2–1 Vanuatu
Tissot  70'
Hauata  80'		 Report B. Kaltack  54' (pen.)
Bisini Sports Complex, Port Moresby
Referee: George Time (Solomon Islands)[11]
Vanuatu 46–0 FS Micronesia
T. Kaltack  2', 18', 27', 49', 53', 56'
Nicholls  3', 16', 37', 45+3', 50'
 57', 61', 64', 65', 72'
J. Kaltack  4', 6', 17', 34', 37'
 44', 45', 45+2', 47', 54'
 59', 60', 66', 73', 90+3', 90+4'
Mansale  12', 20', 22', 29', 30', 36'
Damalip  14', 45+1'
B. Kaltack  23'
Nikiau  55'
Roqara  68', 89'
Manuhi  74'
Andrews  90'		 Report
Bisini Sports Complex, Port Moresby
Referee: Ichikawa Polovili (Tonga)[12]
Tahiti 0–0 Fiji
Report
Bisini Sports Complex, Port Moresby
Referee: Gerald Oiaka (Solomon Islands)[12]

Group B
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  New Zealand 3 3 0 0 8 0 +8 9 Olympic Qualifying knockout stage
2  New Caledonia 3 2 0 1 2 5 −3 6 Pacific Games knockout stage
3  Papua New Guinea (H) 3 1 0 2 2 3 −1 3 Olympic Qualifying and Pacific Games knockout stage
4  Solomon Islands 3 0 0 3 1 5 −4 0
Source: OFC
(H) Host.
New Zealand 2–0 Solomon Islands
Patterson  29'
Rufer  40'		 Report
Bisini Sports Complex, Port Moresby
Referee: Ravitesh Behari (Fiji)[10]
Papua New Guinea 0–1 New Caledonia
Report Kauma  57'
Bisini Sports Complex, Port Moresby
Referee: Robinson Banga (Vanuatu)[10]
New Caledonia 1–0 Solomon Islands
Peter  85' (o.g.) Report
Bisini Sports Complex, Port Moresby
Papua New Guinea 0–1 New Zealand
Report Patterson  60'
Bisini Sports Complex, Port Moresby
Solomon Islands 1–2 Papua New Guinea
Tome  87' Report Semmy  18'
Sabua  65'
Bisini Sports Complex, Port Moresby
Referee: Ravitesh Behari (Fiji)[12]
New Caledonia 0–5 New Zealand
Report Hudson-Wihongi  13'
Rogerson  29', 61', 68'
Prelevic  47'
Bisini Sports Complex, Port Moresby

Olympic Qualifying knockout stage

Only the five teams (Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu) which are both FIFA and IOC members were eligible for this stage.

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
10 July – Port Moresby
 
 
 Fiji3
 
12 July – Port Moresby
 
 Papua New Guinea1
 
 Fiji (pen.)0 (4)
 
10 July – Port Moresby
 
 Vanuatu0 (3)
 
 New Zealand0
 
 
 Vanuatu (awd.)3
 

Olympic Qualifying semi-finals
Fiji 3–1 Papua New Guinea
Qasevakatini  3', 45+1', 53' Report Semmy  10' (pen.)
Bisini Sports Complex, Port Moresby
New Zealand 0–3
Awarded		 Vanuatu
Patterson  47'
Tuiloma  56'		 Report
Bisini Sports Complex, Port Moresby
Referee: Ravitesh Behari (Fiji)[13]

New Zealand advanced to the Olympic Qualifying final with a 2–0 result, but were replaced by Vanuatu on the day of the final after the Oceania Football Confederation found that they had fielded an ineligible player, Deklan Wynne. The match was declared a 3–0 victory for Vanuatu.[14][15] New Zealand were unable to appeal before the final was played and have subsequently announced they would appeal.[16] On 23 October 2015, the OFC announced that New Zealand's appeal had been rejected,[17] meaning New Zealand's only chance to overturn the decision would be to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.[18] On 13 November 2015, New Zealand Football confirmed that they would not appeal.[19]

Olympic Qualifying final
Fiji 0–0 (a.e.t.) Vanuatu
Report
Penalties
Tuivuna
Qasevakatini
Prasad
Sivoki
Verevo
Dreola 		4–3 B. Kaltack
Vava
Kalo
T. Kaltack
J. Kaltack
Kalsarap

Fiji qualified for 2016 Summer Olympics. This was the first time a team from OFC other than Australia or New Zealand qualified for the Olympics.

Team Qualified on Previous appearances in tournament1
 Fiji12 July 20150 (debut)
1 Bold indicates champion for that year. Italic indicates host for that year. Statistics include all Olympic format (current Olympic under-23 format started in 1992).

Pacific Games knockout stage

New Zealand were not eligible as they are not a Pacific Games Council member.

 
Semi-finalsGold medal match
 
      
 
15 July – Port Moresby
 
 
 Tahiti2
 
17 July – Port Moresby
 
 Papua New Guinea1
 
 Tahiti0
 
15 July – Port Moresby
 
 New Caledonia2
 
 New Caledonia2
 
 
 Fiji1
 
Bronze medal match
 
 
17 July – Port Moresby
 
 
 Papua New Guinea2
 
 
 Fiji1

Pacific Games semi-finals
Tahiti 2–1 Papua New Guinea
Tissot  55'
Lucas  76'		 Report Semmy  83'
Bisini Sports Complex, Port Moresby
Referee: Ravitesh Behari (Fiji)[21]
New Caledonia 2–1 Fiji
Ouka  5'
Decoire  42'		 Report Qasevakatini  34'
Bisini Sports Complex, Port Moresby

Bronze medal match
Papua New Guinea 2–1 Fiji
Aisa  8'
A. Komolong  90+1'		 Report Tuivuna  50'
Referee: Gerald Oiaka (Solomon Islands)[22]

Gold medal match
Tahiti 0–2 New Caledonia
Report Ouka  30'
Oiremoin  74' (pen.)
Referee: Ravitesh Behari (Fiji)[22]

Goalscorers
17 goals
11 goals
10 goals
9 goals
8 goals
6 goals
5 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
  • Manasa Nawakula
  • Jim Ouka
  • Dalong Damalip
  • Brian Kaltack
  • Abraham Roqara
1 goal
Own goal

See also

References
  1. "Pacific Games soccer to be played at Under 23 level". Fiji Village. 16 February 2015.
  2. "OFC Executive Committee decisions". Oceania Football Confederation. April 23, 2014. Archived from the original on September 13, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  3. "OFC Executive Committee outcomes". Oceania Football Confederation. October 20, 2014. Archived from the original on July 5, 2015.
  4. "OFC Insider Issue 6". Oceania Football Confederation. March 11, 2015. p. 8.
  5. "QUALIFICATION SYSTEM – GAMES OF THE XXXI OLYMPIAD – RIO 2016 – Football" (PDF). Rio 2016 Official Website. 23 April 2014. Archived from the original (pdf) on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  6. "OFC Olympic Qualifying schedule unveiled". OceaniaFootball.com. 1 June 2015. Archived from the original on 3 June 2015.
  7. "Fiji fairytale continues with Rio ticket". FIFA.com. 12 July 2015.
  8. "Draw defines Road to Rio". Oceania Football Confederation. June 3, 2015. Archived from the original on June 3, 2015.
  9. "XV Pacific Games – Papua New Guinea 2015 Match Schedule" (PDF). Oceania Football Confederation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-07-04.
  10. "Football to get XV Pacific Games started". oceaniafootball.com. 2 July 2015. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  11. "Action aplenty lined up for Day 2". oceaniafootball.com. 5 July 2015. Archived from the original on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  12. "Formalities for some, crunch-time for the rest". oceaniafootball.com. 7 July 2015. Archived from the original on 8 July 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  13. "Olympic Final up for grabs". oceaniafootball.com. 10 July 2015. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  14. "Vanuatu and Fiji to contest Olympic final". Oceania Football Confederation. 12 July 2015. Archived from the original on 15 July 2015.
  15. "Oly Whites to miss Olympics due to ineligible player". New Zealand Herald. 12 July 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  16. Strang, Ben; Hyslop, Liam. "New Zealand Football confirm intent to appeal Olympic expulsion". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  17. "OFC Appeals Committee Decision". Oceania Football Confederation. October 23, 2015. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015.
  18. "New Zealand Football's Olympics eligibility appeal to Oceania fails". Stuff. October 23, 2015.
  19. "NZF Statement: OFC eligibility appeal". New Zealand Football. November 13, 2015. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  20. "FIJ 0–0 VAN (4–3 PENS)". Oceania Football Confederation. 12 July 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  21. "Men back in action at Pacific Games". oceaniafootball.com. 15 July 2015. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  22. "Gold up for grabs in Francophone final". oceaniafootball.com. 17 July 2015. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
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