Discipline played a crucial role in the Fiji Under-19 football team’s impressive 6-1 victory over Vanuatu in the OFC U19 Championship in Apia, Samoa. Fiji U19 coach Marika Rodu emphasized that no yellow cards were issued to his players as they concluded second in Group A, behind the Solomon Islands, who defeated Tahiti 1-0.
The Fijian team is now set to face New Zealand in the semifinals. Rodu noted that the team has reached the knockout stage of the tournament and acknowledged that the players might experience fatigue after playing three 90-minute matches. He highlighted the importance of player recovery, stating that some may not recuperate in time.
Rodu reiterated that discipline was a significant factor in their win, acknowledging that Vanuatu was a tough opponent. “The scoreline did not reflect the difficulty of the game. Vanuatu is a young and talented team who had challenged the Solomon Islands and Tahiti,” he said.
Following a 3-0 loss to the Solomon Islands, the Fijian team bounced back stronger and more confident. Rodu pointed out that unlike their previous game, where they received six yellow cards, there were no yellow cards in this match.
The Fiji U19 team initially trailed Vanuatu 1-0 early in the match. Fiji U19 captain Peniasi Tirau mentioned that they were under significant pressure when they were behind. “As the captain, it was particularly challenging, so we needed to score the equalizer quickly, which I managed to do. From there, we had to work even harder and raise the momentum in this must-win match,” Tirau said.
The semifinals are scheduled for next Monday.