Fiji clinched a 1-0 win over the Solomon Islands to secure fifth place in the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship 2024, fueled by a remarkable free-kick from Sisilia Kuladina.
Both teams took the field after narrowly missing out on semi-final spots, leading to a fiercely contested match.
The Solomon Islands made a last-minute adjustment to their starting lineup, with Bella Fa’arodo replacing Joyce Siosi.
The first half featured few opportunities, with the Solomon Islands hitting the crossbar from a corner, and Fiji’s goalkeeper Miliana Maramanikabu being substituted after suffering a head injury.
In the second half, the Solomon Islands came close to scoring, but it was Kuladina who ultimately made an impact by converting a free-kick from just outside the penalty area.
Fiji maintained their lead to secure the victory, while the Solomon Islands struggled to find an equalizer.