3 September 2026
A hat-trick from Solomon Islands
Captain Jayroll Patty was enough to secure a semi-final
place for the team from the Hapi Isles as they defeated
ten-man New Caledonia 3-1 to take control of Group A in the
OFC Men’s Under-19 Championships at Football HQ in Apia,
Samoa.
The balance of the match swung in favour of the
Solomon Islands just before the twenty-minute mark as New
Caledonia were reduced to ten men. After being awarded a
free-kick Kyllian Wiako, was unhappy with the treatment he
received in the tackle, was dismissed for
retaliation.
Solomon Islands took advantage and broke
the deadlock nine minutes before the interval. A horror
mistake at the back by New Caledonia in attempting to play
out from inside their own six-yard box, resulted in Patty
pouncing on a loose ball, side-stepping his marker, and
lashing a shot into the bottom corner.
However, the
ten-men were on terms shortly after. A superbly flighted
corner from Maurice Katrawa two minutes before half-time was
met at the near post by a bullet header from Jemmanuel
Siwoine that flashed past Jaron Faiga to level the scores.
And yet Solomon Islands went into the changing rooms ahead.
Patty restoring their lead with a drive from outside the box
into the bottom corner.
New Caledonia went searching
for a second equaliser in the second half but were caught
with sixteen minutes left by a third Solomon Islands goal,
that brought up a wonderful hat-trick for Patty.
The
Solomons skipper brilliantly rolled his marker down the left
flank and advanced into the penalty area before lashing a
fierce shot that found its way through Raphael Genton in the
New Caledonia goal to make it 3-1 and secure the points for
his team and progression to the last four.
Group
A
New Caledonia: 1 (Jemmanuel SIWOINE
43’)
Solomon Islands: 3 (Jayroll PATTY 36’,
45+3’, 74’)
HT:
1-2
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