Discipline was the key to the Fiji Under-19 football team’s 6-1 victory over Vanuatu in the OFC U19 Championship held in Apia, Samoa yesterday.
Highlighting this, Fiji U19 coach Marika Rodu noted that none of his players received a yellow card as they secured second place in Group A, finishing behind the Solomon Islands, who defeated Tahiti 1-0. The Fijians are now expected to face New Zealand in the semifinal.
Rodu mentioned that they have advanced to the tournament’s knockout stage, adding, “This is where fatigue comes in after playing three 90-minute matches. Recovery is important and there will be some players who are not going to recover in time.”
Rodu emphasized that discipline played a significant role in their win, acknowledging Vanuatu as a challenging opponent. “The scoreline did not reflect how tough the game was. Vanuatu is a young, talented team that pushed both the Solomon Islands and Tahiti.”
Following their 3-0 loss to the Solomon Islands, the Fijians bounced back with stronger morale and confidence. Rodu pointed out that there were no yellow cards for his players in this match compared to six in their first game.
The Fiji U19 team initially trailed 1-0 early in the match against Vanuatu. Fiji U19 captain Peniasi Tirau mentioned the pressure they felt when behind. “As captain, it was especially challenging, so we needed to score the equalizer quickly, which I managed to do. From there, we had to work extra hard and raise the momentum in this must-win match,” he said.
The semifinals are scheduled to take place next Monday.