The Fiji Under-19 football team has secured a place in the semifinals of the OFC U19 Championship in Apia, Samoa, following a decisive 6-1 victory over Vanuatu. This win comes after their previous 3-0 defeat to the Solomon Islands.
Vanuatu took the lead just four minutes into the match when Ronn Tasarur connected with a long ball and set up Glen Maki for a close-range goal. However, Fiji quickly responded with an equalizer from co-captain Penisoni Tirau, who headed in a free kick by Ibraheem Afazal.
Fiji, the 2022 finalists, regained the lead 12 minutes later with Afazal scoring into an empty net after a run and pass from Eparama Moraica. Tirau nearly added another, but Moraica’s shot was cleared off the line by Jean Patriano Natou.
Afazal then increased Fiji’s lead with a powerful strike from a distance, beating the Vanuatu goalkeeper. He also assisted Sterling Vasconcellos for a header off a corner kick to make it 4-1 by halftime.
Fiji continued to dominate in set-pieces. Another corner kick found Vasconcellos, who scored with a close-range header. William Khan sealed the win with a final header from a corner kick in the last moments of the game, marking his first goal for Fiji.
Despite their efforts, Vanuatu couldn’t keep up and will now compete for seventh place after three consecutive defeats in the tournament. Fiji’s victory places them at the top of Group A with six points, awaiting the outcome of the Tahiti vs. Solomon Islands match to determine their final group standing.
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