Fiji edged past the Solomon Islands in their opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Oceania Qualifiers, even after spending most of the game with just ten players.
Roy Krishna scored the decisive goal from a tight angle, giving coach Rob Sherman’s team a lead after Aporosa Yada was sent off for a reckless tackle in the 39th minute.
The Solomon Islands started the match more brightly, applying pressure on the Fijian defense but failed to create significant scoring opportunities. Krishna managed to break the deadlock, capitalizing on defensive errors and firing a shot that went through the legs of goalkeeper Phillip Mango, energizing the enthusiastic home crowd.
After Fiji took the lead, they faced a setback shortly before halftime when Yada received a red card for a foul near the Solomon Islands’ penalty area. Despite having a man advantage, the Solomon Islands struggled to turn their possession into effective chances, leaving coach Josh Smith frustrated.
Fiji’s defense was resilient throughout the second half, with keeper Jerome Narayan largely untroubled by the Solomon Islands’ attacks. Rafa Le’ai presented some threats with his pace but was unable to consistently challenge Fiji’s defense, which became more defensive as the game progressed.
Narayan dealt comfortably with several dangerous crosses, and Leroy Jennings nearly scored for Fiji with a close effort that Mango saved just in time. Krishna also had a golden chance shortly after, but his shot hit the near post after being deflected by Mango.
Final score: Solomon Islands 0, Fiji 1 (Goal by Roy Krishna at 13 minutes).