The Digicel Fiji Bula Boys secured a victory against the Solomon Islands with a score of 1-0 in their opening match of the FIFA World Cup 26 Oceania qualifiers at the HFC Stadium in Suva on Thursday night.
Captain Roy Krishna scored the decisive goal in the 13th minute, marking an important step in their quest for World Cup qualification. After the match, Krishna praised his team’s performance and recognized the challenge posed by the Solomon Islands.
He noted, “We know that whenever we play against the Solomon Islands, it’s going to be a physical game. However, I think the red card changed the game. If it was 11 vs. 11, the result would have been different.”
The red card was issued to Aporosa Yada in the 38th minute for a dangerous foul, a decision that received varied reactions from the gathered crowds. Despite this setback, Krishna emphasized that the team maintained its focus and played with the mentality of having a full squad, which he credited as a key factor in their success.
“We defended as a team and as a brotherhood, and a clean sheet is most important,” he remarked.
Looking ahead, Krishna expressed excitement for upcoming matches against New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea. He also expressed gratitude for the support from fans, whom he described as the team’s “12th man,” saying, “I’m just so grateful they came out to be the 12th man, and as I said, the 12th man will push us, and they did tonight.”