Football at the 2015 Pacific Games – Men's tournament

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)Vanuatu Jean Kaltack (17 goals)
← 2011
2019 →
International football competition
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)Vanuatu Jean Kaltack (17 goals)
← 2012
2019 →
International football competition

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]

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
 Fiji 12th Gold medal (1991, 2003)
FS Micronesia 2nd Group stage (2003)
 New Caledonia 14th Gold medal (1963, 1969, 1971, 1987, 2007, 2011)
 New Zealand 1st Debut
 Papua New Guinea (hosts) 13th Bronze medal (1969, 1987)
 Solomon Islands 12th Silver medal (1991, 1995, 2011)
 Tahiti 14th Gold medal (1966, 1975, 1979, 1983, 1995)
 Vanuatu 14th Silver 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
 Fiji Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
FS Micronesia No No Yes Yes No Yes
 New Caledonia Yes Yes No Yes No Yes
 New Zealand Yes Yes Yes No Yes No
 Papua New Guinea Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
 Solomon Islands Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
 Tahiti Yes Yes No Yes No Yes
 Vanuatu Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Venues

Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

  • KML
  • GPX (all coordinates)
  • GPX (primary coordinates)
  • GPX (secondary coordinates)
Port Moresby
Bisini Sports Complex Sir Hubert Murray Stadium
9°28′18″S 147°12′03″E / 9.471732°S 147.200810°E / -9.471732; 147.200810 (Bisini Field) 9°27′59″S 147°09′24″E / 9.466323°S 147.156674°E / -9.466323; 147.156674 (Sir Hubert Murray Stadium)

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  Micronesia 3 0 0 3 0 114 −114 0
Source: OFC
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]
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 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) Hosts
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 subsequently announced they would appeal,[16] but 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 soccer ball with check mark
Qasevakatini soccer ball with red X
Prasad soccer ball with red X
Sivoki soccer ball with check mark
Verevo soccer ball with check mark
Dreola soccer ball with check mark		 4–3 soccer ball with check mark B. Kaltack
soccer ball with red X Vava
soccer ball with red X Kalo
soccer ball with check mark T. Kaltack
soccer ball with check mark J. Kaltack
soccer ball with red X 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
 Fiji 12 July 2015 0 (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'

Gold medal match

Tahiti 0–2 New Caledonia
Report Ouka 30'
Oiremoin 74' (pen.)

Goalscorers

17 goals
11 goals
10 goals
  • Vanuatu Bill Nicholls
9 goals
8 goals
6 goals
  • Vanuatu Tony Kaltack
  • Vanuatu Barry Mansale
5 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
  • Fiji Manasa Nawakula
  • New Caledonia Jim Ouka
  • Vanuatu Dalong Damalip
  • Vanuatu Brian Kaltack
  • Vanuatu 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. ^ a b c "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. Archived from the original on July 14, 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. ^ a b c d "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. ^ a b c d "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. ^ a b c d "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "Gold up for grabs in Francophone final". oceaniafootball.com. 17 July 2015. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.

External links

  • Official 2015 Pacific Games website
  • XV Pacific Games Men's Tournament, Official OFC website
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