The Digicel Fiji Bula Boys narrowly defeated the Solomon Islands 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 a pivotal moment in Fiji’s quest for World Cup qualification.
After the match, Krishna praised his team’s performance and acknowledged the challenging nature of the game against the Solomon Islands. He noted that the match often turns physical, and the red card issued to Aporosa Yada in the 38th minute for a dangerous foul significantly impacted the dynamics of the game. Krishna suggested that if both teams had played with 11 players, the outcome might have been different.
Despite the red card situation, Krishna emphasized that his team maintained the mentality of playing as if they had a full squad on the field, a mindset he credited as crucial to their win. He expressed pride in the team’s collective effort and achieving a clean sheet.
Looking ahead, Krishna mentioned the Bula Boys are keen to take on New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea in their upcoming matches. He also expressed gratitude to the fans who attended, referring to them as the “12th man” and acknowledging their role in boosting the team’s morale during the match.