SI mens soccer team tops pool 2 after downing SPG hosts Samoa 3-0

Solomon Islands mens soccer team have maintained their 100% unbeaten record to top their pool ahead of Vanuatu after downing SPG hosts Samoa by 3 goals to nil today in Apia.

Solomons wonder boy, Benjamin Totori scored the fastest goal of the SPG soccer tournament in the first minute of play after pounding on the ball immediately from the kick off. The New Zealand based striker's impression in the tournament resulted in an easy finish for his second in the 37th minute after being put through from quick counter attack play by Solomon Islands down the left side.

At half time, Solomon Islands was up by 2 goals to nil. Sensing defeat, the Talofa boys came out firing in the second half but only to be controlled by the solid backline of the Solomons team. In the 58th minute of play, rain started pouring down in Apia and Solomon Islands utilised the situation by taking shots at almost every opportunity.

In the 66th minute, Solomon Islands sensed Samoa coming back into the game, and brought in golden boy Commins Menapi for Godwin Bebeu as well as Alick Maemae for Benjamin TOTORI. This immediately paid off in the 67th minute when Menapi broke into the box and an ensuing deflection saw Alick Maemae mark his introduction to the game with a goal to make it 3-0 in favour of Solomon Islands.

In the 91st minute, Maemae had the ball inside the net again, but was clearly offside so the goal was disallowed. At full time, Solomon Islands 3 Samoa 0.

In the other match in pitch 2, Vanuatu calmly defeated Tonga by 4-1 to claim the runner-up berth behind Solomon Islands in pool 2.

In a match that is currently underway, Fiji and New Caledonia are battling it out to determine who tops pool 1 and who will be the runner up. In the Semi-final, Solomon Islands is expected to play the loser of the current match whilst Vanuatu will play the winner of the current match between Fiji and New Caledonia.