Discipline was the driving force behind the Fiji Under-19 football team’s impressive 6-1 victory over Vanuatu in the OFC U19 Championship in Apia, Samoa. Fiji U19 coach Marika Rodu highlighted the importance of maintaining discipline, as no yellow cards were given to his players in this match. As a result, Fiji finished second in Group A, behind the Solomon Islands, who secured a 1-0 win over Tahiti.
Fiji is now set to face New Zealand in the semifinals. Rodu acknowledged the significance of reaching the knockout stages of the tournament, pointing out the challenges that come with fatigue after playing three 90-minute matches. Player recovery is crucial, and some may not recover in time for the next match.
Rodu emphasized that discipline was a key factor in their victory against a talented Vanuatu team, stating, “The scoreline did not reflect how tough the game was. Vanuatu is a young, talented team that had challenged both the Solomon Islands and Tahiti.”
After a 3-0 defeat to the Solomon Islands, the Fijian team bounced back stronger and more confident. Rodu noted the improvement in discipline, with no yellow cards in this game compared to the six received in their first match.
The Fiji U19 team initially trailed Vanuatu 1-0, but captain Peniasi Tirau expressed the pressure they were under to equalize quickly. “As captain, it was especially challenging, but I managed to score the equalizer. From there, we had to work extra hard and increase our momentum in this must-win match,” he said.
The semifinals are scheduled for next Monday.