Greenland reach Island Games final in style, Falklands and Frøya to contest bronze

Greenland went on the scoring rampage for the 2^nd game in a row as they thrashed the Falkland Islands 9-0 to secure a place in the Island Games final for the 1^st time in their history. The South Atlantic side needed 3 points to pip Greenland to that place but found themselves 5 down at the break en route to their joint record defeat. Both sides rested players with the Falklands seemingly aware of their upcoming fate.

Cruise...it was an easy Greenland win

Big striker Norsaq Lund Mathæussen took just 5 minutes to score his 2^nd of the competition when he found himself in too much space inside the box. The B-67 player made it 2-0 3 minutes later with another simple finish before right-back Minik Stephensen got his 1^st international goal on 20 minutes.

Johan Bidstrup then joined in the part with a left-footed rocket before Sakiu Lundblad scored his 3^rd goal of the games in the 42^nd minute, firing in after Claudio Ross had cleared a corner off the line.

The Falklands didn’t give in and 5 minutes after the break captain Wayne Clement shot wide following a corner. However they were soon on the back foot again with Stephen Aldridge clearing off the line before substitute Zaza Elbakidze brought down John-Ludvig Broberg in the box, Maasi Maqe making it 6-0 from the penalty spot.

An awful spell then saw the Falklands concede 3 goals in 4 minutes as Broberg, Bidstrup and Palu Petersen added to the relentless marauding. Dan Biggs headed wide and Rafael Sotomayor forced Loke Svane into his only save but Greenland were able to cruise through the final stages.

Match information - 

Score: Falkland Islands 0-9 Greenland

Celebrate...the Greenland team 

Goals: Kaali Mathæussen 5’, 8’ Minik Stephensen 20’ Johan Bidstrup 38, 61’ Sakiu Lundblad 42’ Maasi Maqe 57’ (pen) John-Ludvig Broberg 59’ Palu Petersen 63’

Falkland Islands XI: Hoyles; K Biggs, Gilson-Clarke [Elbakidze 46’], L Clarke, Ross [D Biggs 70’]; Chipunza, Clayton, Balladares, Peck, Aldridge; Clement [Sotomayor 68’].

Greenland XI: Svane; N Mathæussen [Eldevig 68’], Stephensen, Birch, Lunblad; A Petersen, Maqe [Knudsen 50’], J Broberg, Bidstrup; K Mathæussen, P Petersen.

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In the other game Bermuda’s reserves had too much for bottom side Frøya, who have now conceded 22 goals in 3 games. Hat-tricks for Lejaun Simmons and UK-based Angelo Simmons made sure the FIFA side were in full control with Rai Simons and Marco Warren adding to the rout.

The Norwegians will now meet the Falklands to decide who comes 3^rd and who finishes last, with the former having never collected the wooden spoon at the Island Games. Greenland will be hoping for a closer game against Bermuda than the 3-0 group match in what promises to be an interesting final. Each of the 3 non-FIFA sides have never won medals at the men’s football before.

Match information - 

Score: Bermuda 8-0 Frøya

Goals: Lejaun Simmons 30', 73’, 81’ Angelo Simmons 33', 62’, 86’ Rai Simons 49' Marco Warren 67'.

Frøya XI:  Fredagsvik; Theodorsen, Iversen, Hallaren, Mathissen; Luberth, A Johansen, Mathisen, Vikan, Gaasø; Larsen.