The Digicel Fiji Baby Bula Boys have secured a place in the semi-finals of the Oceania Football Confederation Under-19 Championship following a hard-fought 3-2 victory against Vanuatu.
Fiji entered the match in Tahiti knowing that a draw would suffice for progression, but they fell behind early when Vanuatu’s Sakaria Manipen scored in the eighth minute.
In the 34th minute, Krishna Samy Jr leveled the score for Fiji after his cross was mishandled by the Vanuatu defense and found its way into the net.
Rishal Shankar then put Fiji ahead with a stunning shot from outside the box, placing the ball into the top right corner, giving Fiji a 2-1 lead at halftime.
Shankar later assisted the third goal, delivering a cross that was converted by Veleni Rasorewa. Fiji managed to maintain their lead and secure the win.
Finishing as runners-up in the group, Fiji will now face the winners of Group B. The top three teams in the championship will qualify for the FIFA U17 World Cup next year.
A victory in the semi-finals will guarantee qualification, while a loss will still present the team with an opportunity to secure a spot by finishing third.