PNG women finally break through as Sifas fires Junior Bilums into OFC knockout race

Papua New Guinea have put themselves back in the race for the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Under-16 Women’s Championship semi-finals after finally ending a 10-year wait for a tournament win.

The Junior Bilums produced their best performance of the competition so far to beat Tonga 4-1 in Honiara on Thursday.

Player of the Match, Chriszanne Sifas, scored twice and caused problems for the Tongan defence with her pace.

It was PNG’s first win at the championship since they beat New Caledonia 2-1 in the semi-finals in January 2016.

More importantly, the result keeps their knockout hopes alive.

PNG took control early, with Joylin Lisah opening the scoring inside seven minutes after Tonga failed to clear the ball.

Sifas then struck twice in the first half to put PNG 3-0 ahead at the break.

Her first goal came in the 23rd minute as she used her speed to break in behind the Tongan defence before finishing the move.

She did it again 12 minutes later to give PNG a three-goal cushion and leave Tonga with a mountain to climb.

Papua New Guinea players celebrate after scoring in their 4-1 victory over Tonga, keeping their semi-final hopes alive. Photo/OFC Media/Phototek

Tonga's task became even harder just after the hour when Uinita Moala was shown a straight red card for pulling the shirt of Sifas as she went through on goal.

Tonga refused to give up and found a way onto the scoresheet in the 85th minute.

Vea Tenifa reacted first to a rebound off PNG goalkeeper Roselyn Joses to make it 3-1.

But PNG had the final word.

Glenda Dany curled a free kick into the top-left corner in the fifth minute of stoppage time after Tonga gave away the set piece with a back pass to the goalkeeper.

The win moves PNG into a final-day showdown with Sāmoa for the remaining semi-final place from Group B.

Sāmoa had lost 1-0 to New Caledonia in their first group-stage defeat at the championship since 2017.

New Caledonia's Heidra Adjouhgniope scored the only goal of that match on Thursday in the 35th minute after capitalising on a mistake in the Sāmoan defence.

She stole possession inside the penalty area before finding the top-right corner from close range.

New Caledonia now advance to the semi-finals for the third consecutive tournament while their final group match against Tonga will decide whether they finish top of Group B.

They also had chances to add to their lead against Sāmoa with Wylona Haewegene hitting the crossbar from distance in the second half and Emma Jiako missing when one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

For Sāmoa, the defeat is a major blow after they beat New Caledonia 5-0 at the same stage of the competition last year.

New Caledonia players celebrate their 1-0 win over Samoa, which sends them through to the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship semi-finals. Photo/OFC Media/Phototek

Their focus now turns to PNG. The two sides meet on Sunday with the final semi-final spot from Group B on the line.

New Caledonia face Tonga first with a point enough to secure top spot before PNG and Sāmoa meet.

For PNG, the equation is simple: the Junior Bilums have gone from waiting a decade for another tournament win to having a chance to reach the last four.

And after Sifas' two-goal performance against Tonga, Sāmoa will know exactly where one of PNG's biggest threats is coming from.

The winner and the runner-up will qualify for FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup 2027™. For full results of the OFC U16 Women's Championshop, click here.