Papua New Guinea knew they had to win on the final day of Group B. In the end, even that wasn’t enough.
 100vw, 640px” data-recalc-dims=”1″/>Papua New Guinea beat Samoa but it wasn’t enough (Photo: OFC via Phototek)</p><p>PNG knew a win over Samoa, might not be enough, as they needed to overturn their 5-1 goal difference from the loss to Fiji.</p><p>Tommy Semmy ignited hope for PNG with a first half goal, before a crucial second arrived in the early stages of the second period, thanks to a combination from the Kepo brothers. Kolu releasing Ati with an excellent through ball and the forward made no mistake, tucking the ball under Taupau to double the lead.</p><p><img decoding=)
Papua New Guineas Tommy Semmy and Papua New Guineas Alwin Komolong during theOFC Men’s Nations Cup 2024, Group B, Samoa v Papua New Guinea, HFC Bank Stadium, Suva, Saturday 22 June 2024. Photo: Kirk Corrie / www.phototek.nz
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/footballoceania.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SAMOA_PNG_OFC_35-Kirk-Corrie.jpg?fit=300%2C153&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/footballoceania.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SAMOA_PNG_OFC_35-Kirk-Corrie.jpg?fit=640%2C326&ssl=1″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/footballoceania.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SAMOA_PNG_OFC_35-Kirk-Corrie.jpg?resize=640%2C326&ssl=1″ alt=”” class=”wp-image-25770″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/footballoceania.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SAMOA_PNG_OFC_35-Kirk-Corrie.jpg?resize=1024%2C522&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/footballoceania.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SAMOA_PNG_OFC_35-Kirk-Corrie.jpg?resize=300%2C153&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/footballoceania.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SAMOA_PNG_OFC_35-Kirk-Corrie.jpg?resize=768%2C392&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/footballoceania.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SAMOA_PNG_OFC_35-Kirk-Corrie.jpg?resize=1536%2C784&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/footballoceania.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SAMOA_PNG_OFC_35-Kirk-Corrie.jpg?resize=2048%2C1045&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/footballoceania.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SAMOA_PNG_OFC_35-Kirk-Corrie.jpg?resize=1200%2C612&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/footballoceania.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SAMOA_PNG_OFC_35-Kirk-Corrie.jpg?w=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https://i0.wp.com/footballoceania.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SAMOA_PNG_OFC_35-Kirk-Corrie.jpg?w=1920&ssl=1 1920w” sizes=”(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px” data-recalc-dims=”1″/>Papua New Guineas Tommy Semmy and Papua New Guineas Alwin Komolong celebrate Semmy’s goal. (Photo: OFC via Phototek)
But just aftet hour mark Samoa managed to pull one back as Pharrell Trainor headed in a cross.
And there would be no more goals, meaning PNG would have to hope for a Fiji hammering of Tahiti in the late kick off.
But their hopes were crushed as the match ended in a 1-0 win to the hosts, which was not enough for PNG.
A Roy Krishna penalty – his third in two matches – and his 40th international goal, more than any OFC player – was the catalyst for a scrappy win for Rob Sherman’s side, who will now play Vanuatu in their semi-final in Port Vila on Thursday.
