Fiji defeated Solomon Islands 1-0 to secure fifth place in the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship 2024, with a remarkable free-kick scored by Sisilia Kuladina.
Both teams approached the match after falling short of a semi-final spot, resulting in a tightly contested game. Solomon Islands made a last-minute adjustment to their lineup, substituting Bella Fa’arodo for Joyce Siosi.
The first half offered few scoring opportunities. Solomon Islands came close when they hit the crossbar from a corner kick, and Fiji’s goalkeeper Miliana Maramanikabu had to leave the field after a head injury.
In the second half, Solomon Islands nearly took the lead, but it was Kuladina who turned the tide with a precise free-kick taken from just outside the penalty box. Fiji maintained their advantage while Solomon Islands struggled to equalize.