Discipline proved to be the crucial factor in the Fiji Under-19 football team’s 6-1 victory over Vanuatu in the OFC U19 Championship held in Apia, Samoa yesterday.
Fiji U19 coach Marika Rodu emphasized that none of his players received a yellow card during the match. With this win, Fiji finished second in Group A, behind the Solomon Islands who defeated Tahiti 1-0.
The team is now set to face New Zealand in the semifinal.
Rodu mentioned that they have now entered the knockout stage of the tournament, where fatigue becomes a significant concern after playing three 90-minute matches. “Recovery of the players is important, and some may not recover in time,” Rodu stated.
Highlighting the role of discipline in their victory, Rodu also acknowledged that Vanuatu was a tough opponent. “The scoreline did not reflect the difficulty of the game. Vanuatu is a young, talented team that challenged both the Solomon Islands and Tahiti.”
Rodu noted that after their 3-0 loss to the Solomon Islands, the team came back stronger and more confident. “No yellow cards were shown to our players in this game, compared to the six we received in the first match.”
At the beginning of the match, the Fiji U19 side trailed Vanuatu 1-0.
Fiji U19 captain Peniasi Tirau said they felt significant pressure when they were behind. “Especially for me as the captain, it was crucial to score the equaliser quickly, which I managed to do. From there, we had to work harder and increase our momentum in this must-win match.”
The semifinals are scheduled to take place next Monday.