Fiji battled to secure a 1-1 draw against a resilient Papua New Guinea in their second group-stage match of the Prime Minister’s Cup, held in the Solomon Islands.
Fiji dominated possession throughout the match and generated more scoring opportunities but faced challenges breaking through Papua New Guinea’s well-organized defense.
The first breakthrough came in the 25th minute when Raymond Gunemba capitalized on a chance to put Papua New Guinea ahead, silencing the Fijian side with a precise finish.
In the second half, Fiji’s forward line—comprising Thomas Dunn, Christopher Wasasala, and Sairusi Nalaubu—intensified their efforts. Their persistence paid off when Dunn delivered a well-placed pass to Wasasala, who skillfully maneuvered past the Papua New Guinea goalkeeper and set up Nalaubu for an easy finish, leveling the score.
The game took an unexpected pause in the 84th minute due to thunderstorms, forcing both teams to retreat to the changing rooms for approximately 15 minutes. Once play resumed, neither side managed to find the decisive goal, resulting in the match concluding with a 1-1 draw.