The Digicel Fiji Bula Boys encountered a challenging match against Hong Kong-China in the final of the FIFA International “A” Friendlies Tri-Nations Series held at Churchill Park in Lautoka yesterday.
The match concluded in a hard-fought 1-1 draw, but Hong Kong claimed victory in the series based on goal difference. The Bula Boys showcased their potential in the first half, with Dave Radrigai scoring an impressive diving header in the 18th minute, giving Fiji a 1-0 lead at halftime.
Despite their strength and determination, Hong Kong managed to equalize in the closing minutes of the match. Fiji’s head coach, Rob Sherman, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, considering it among their best. He acknowledged the need for the players to maintain focus throughout the entire match and address moments of lapse that led to conceding a goal.
Although Fiji did not dominate the game, Sherman felt that the Bula Boys were stronger for the majority of the match and highlighted the importance of building on their progress for future encounters. “I was pleased with the boys, very pleased, I think this is one of our best performances so far,” stated Sherman. He noted that while they created many chances, they fell short of maintaining performance for the full 90 minutes.
Captain Roy Krishna reflected on the unfortunate outcome but lauded the team’s efforts against a robust opponent. He stressed the importance of the players staying focused and taking care of themselves to continue their positive trajectory. Looking ahead to their upcoming match against the Solomon Islands in October, the Bula Boys aim to learn from this experience and return stronger.