The Fiji Under-19 football team secured a place in the semifinals of the OFC U19 Championship in Apia, Samoa, yesterday.
This achievement came after the team, coached by Marika Rodu, rebounded from a 3-0 defeat to the Solomon Islands by defeating Vanuatu 6-1.
Vanuatu took just four minutes to score, with Ronn Tasarur setting up Glen Maki to strike past Fiji’s Ilisoni Koro. Despite conceding early, Fiji quickly responded with co-captain Penisoni Tirau equalizing the score.
Ibraheem Afazal delivered a dangerous free kick, which Tirau converted with a header into the net. Fiji, finding their momentum, scored again 12 minutes later when Eparama Moraica assisted Afazal, who finished into an empty net.
Tirau nearly added another goal with a length-of-the-field run, but Moraica’s shot was cleared off the line by Jean Patriano Natou.
The third goal arrived shortly after, as Afazal struck from a distance to beat Vanuatu’s goalkeeper Joseph Nakou. Afazal continued to shine, his corner finding an unmarked Sterling Vasconcellos, who headed the ball into the far corner.
Vanuatu, seeking a way back, left their defense vulnerable. Fiji capitalized on this during set pieces, with Vasconcellos scoring another header from a corner. Finally, William Khan sealed Fiji’s victory with a header in the dying moments, marking his first goal for the country.
Despite their efforts, Vanuatu couldn’t overcome Fiji’s dominance, suffering their third defeat in the tournament, and will compete for seventh place.
The win places Fiji at the top of Group A with six points. The outcome of the Tahiti versus Solomon Islands match will determine whether Fiji tops the group.
Scorers:
Vanuatu: 1 (Glen Maki 4’)
Fiji: 6 (Penisoni Tirau 13’, Ibraheem Afazal 25’, 29’, Sterling Vasconcellos 35’, 61’; William Khan 90+5’)
Halftime: Vanuatu 1-4 Fiji