FT · World: International Friendly · Wednesday, 30 September 2026

Papua New Guinea 1–1 Solomon IslandsMatch recap & Bawler model verdict · Wednesday, 30 September 2026

> 🧠 Model verdict
✗ Result against the lean

Pre-match, Bawler had Papua New Guinea at 52%, draw at 21%, Solomon Islands at 27%. Against expectation, the match finished 1-1. The model's headline call was Papua New Guinea to win.

> Pre-match probability vs result
Guinea win
52%
Draw
21%
Actual ✓
Islands win
27%
> Expected vs actual goals
Model expected (xG)
2.35 – 1.68
Total 4.03
Actual
1 – 1
Total 2 (-2.0 vs xG)

Match underperformed xG by 2.0 goals. Below-expectation scoring — could be wasteful finishing, strong goalkeeping, or low-quality chances the model over-rated.

> 🧾 What the model called · and how it landed
High confidence
Over 1.5 Goals
Pre-match: 91%
✓ Won
Medium confidence
Home Win
Pre-match: 52%
✗ Lost
> What we said pre-match
"Over 1.5 Goals is the high-confidence call at 90%, anchored by Papua New Guinea's 0.63 xG advantage and a combined expected output of 3.94 goals."

> More from Bawler