The CommBank Joeys have completed the PacificAus Sports Football Tour 2026 with a 3-1 against Solomon Islands U-19 at National Sports Stadium, Honiara
In the third and final match of the tour, goals from Malik Olukhale, Georgio Hassarati and Luke Becvinovski were enough to secure a hard-fought victory, with Jimson Abana scoring for the home team.
The opening 20 minutes of the match were punctuated by fouls, physical challenges and desperate defending. In fact, the only real chance early on was a header from Hassarati, forcing a fingertip save following a Max Court cross.
Court was a constant thorn in the side of Solomon Islands, beating his defender time and again, getting in behind the line and delivering dangerous crosses. It was no surprise therefore, when the winger played a decisive role in the opening goal.
Following a scuffed clearance by the Solomon Island’s goalkeeper, Court was first to the ball, drove into space and played a perfectly placed cross along the ground to the feet of Olukhale who finished with a first-time strike.
The remainder of the half saw Australia unable to capitalise on several half-chances with a combination of blocked shots, goalkeeper saves and poor finishing keeping the score at 1-0 going into half time. The only chances for Solomon Islands came from free kick attempts that never troubled the keeper.
Australia opened the second stanza with two shots saved from Court, but it was Solomon Islands who took the ascendancy early with a flurry of chances in quick succession.
First, a quick counter-attacker ended with Junior Doropita getting in behind but blasting his shot over the crossbar before Abana forced a save a minute later, rising highest to get his head onto a Doropita cross.
Pressure from Solomon Islands paid off when they were very quickly rewarded for their flurry of chances. Australian keeper, Cooper Winqvist took too many touches on the ball, allowing Abana to close him down: the physical striker’s tackle forcing the ball into the goal. The equaliser was Abana’s second goal against the Joeys this tour.
The homes side should have taken the lead only minutes later, when Abana shot wide following an impressive interception and forward run by Jack Lakaoau. Abana once again forced Winqvist into a save almost instantly with a strong strike from distance.
Momentum had certainly shifted to the Solomon Islands, spearheaded by Abana, but Australia scored against the run of play to restore their lead and wrestle back control of the contest. Hassarati restored the Joeys lead with a neat header from a Court cross.
Australia’s control of the match was further reinforced with Becvinovski making an immediate impact, hitting the crossbar moments after being inserted into the game following good defensive work by Oliver O'Carroll and Joey Sikora.
Court almost capped off his solid performance with a goal. First winning a penalty after being brought down by the box, but his resulting spot kick was saved by Lawrence Samo.
Australia almost paid the ultimate price for the missed penalty, with Solomon Islands going on the offensive in a last-ditch effort to rescue a point. Abana and Wilkinson Siosi each had chances, but it was Soisi’s second opportunity of the match – with only two minutes left – that led Winqvist into a game-winning save. Following a short-corner routine, Siosi found space in the box to shoot, forcing the very best out of the Australian keeper to maintain the lead.
Solomon Islands were left to rue those missed opportunities when, with their numbers pushed forward for the equaliser, they were left short at the back allowing Becvinovski to secure victory with his fourth goal of the tour.
CommBank Joeys forward, Max Court, said the match was a great test against strong opposition and praise the PacificAus Sports Football Tour as a concept.
“This match was a great challenge. The Solomon Island boys are really strong, really fast and it's really good to get experience against them,” said Court.
“Chances like this to go overseas and play Pacific opposition are amazing. We get to experience teams we don’t usually play against and to be honest it’s incredible.
“Tours like this is a great way to learn how to get good against stronger, faster opponents and – not just that – we build friendships that we know we'll keep your whole life, and that's the most important part about football.”
MATCH DETAILS
Solomon Islands U-19: 1 (Abana 58’)
CommBank Joeys: 3 (Olukhale 19’, Hassarati 71’, Becvinovski 89’)
CommBank Joeys: 1. Cooper WINQVIST, 4. Miles MILLINER (2. Marcus SAVIC 56’), 6. Sajjad NASIRI (23. Taj SORENSEN 56’), 7. Aston REID (21. Corey DA CRUZ 71’), 10. Malik OLUKHALE (17. Joey SIKORA 46’), 11. Max COURT (24. Cristian LOMBARDO 79’), 13. Winston ASHBURNER (15. Emile KATRIB 79’), 14. Fraser BROWN, 19. Stevan RUJAK, 20. Georgio HASSARATI (9. Luke BECVINOVSKI 71’), 22. Oliver O'CARROLL (16. Ryan BUTTIGIEG 79’)
Substitutes not used: 5. William KENGNI, 8. Luka DEMUTH, 12. Mitchell BRIGHT, 18. Laris CESKO
Yellow Card: Nasiri 6’
Red Card: Nil
Solomon Islands U-19: 1. Lawrence SAMO, 2. Goerge KENI, 5. Michael HORI, 7. Junior DOROPITA (22. Wilkinson SIOSI 86’), 8. Danford FIUMAE, 10. Jayrol PATTY (15. Stephen MANGO 78’), 13. Jimson ABANA (MAAKE 86’), 17. Kevin KAKASI (16. Schurman MANEDIKA 86’), 18. Emmanuel SUIMAE (23. Ben FILIA 56’ (3. Benol JUNIOR 78’)), 19. Adrian KIONIMAE (9. Kennedy SIHIU 56’), 21. Jack LAKAPAU
Substitutes not used: 4. Ralph SUA, 6. Blake CELTIA, 12. Alick HALE, 14. Crawford HUNIPAURO
Yellow Card: Patty 28’, Kionime 33’, Keni 65’, Maake 90+5’
Red Card: Nil