Sylvain Graglia scores brace as Tahiti beat Papua New Guinea

Updated: May 17, 2023, 12:46 am

Tahiti moved into pole position in Group B of Oceania World Cup qualifying with a 3-1 win away at Papua New Guinea on Thursday.

PNG, who last year lost to New Zealand on penalties in the final of the OFC Nations Cup, opened the scoring in Port Moresby in first-half injury time through Nigel Dabingyaba.

Sylvain Graglia equalised just before the hour and he turned the game around with his second five minutes from time. Teaonui Tehau put the result beyond doubt with the third in added time. 

The result means PNG must beat Tahiti when the two teams meet again in Papeete on Tuesday to stand any chance of qualifying for the World Cup.

Tahiti currently lead Solomon Islands by three points in the three-team group, after the two nations each won a game when they played their double header in November.

The winners of the group will likely meet New Zealand, currently top of Group A, to go through to the intercontinental playoff against the fifth-placed team in South America.