The Digicel Fiji Bula Boys secured a narrow 1-0 victory against the Solomon Islands in their opening match of the FIFA World Cup 26 Oceania qualifiers at HFC Stadium in Suva on Thursday night. Captain Roy Krishna scored the decisive goal in the 13th minute, providing a crucial boost to their World Cup qualification efforts.
Following the match, Krishna praised his team’s performance and acknowledged the resilience of their opponents. He noted, “We know that whenever we play against the Solomons, it tends to be a physical game. However, I believe the red card significantly influenced the outcome of the match.”
The red card was issued to Aporosa Yada for a dangerous tackle in the 38th minute, a decision that sparked varied reactions from the enthusiastic crowd. Despite being a man down, Krishna stated that the team maintained the mentality of playing against a full side, which he credited as a key factor in their success.
“We defended as a united team and achieved a clean sheet, which is very important,” he said. Looking ahead, Krishna expressed excitement about their upcoming matches against New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea.
He also expressed gratitude to the supporters in attendance, highlighting their impact on the team’s morale. “I’m thankful for the fans who came out to support us; they were like our 12th man, driving us forward tonight,” he added.