Fiji emerged victorious with a 1-0 win over the Solomon Islands, securing fifth place in the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship 2024, thanks to a remarkable free-kick by Sisilia Kuladina.
Both teams entered the match following narrow exits from the semi-finals, and the game proved to be closely contested. The Solomon Islands made a last-minute adjustment to their starting lineup, replacing Joyce Siosi with Bella Fa’arodo.
The first half featured few scoring opportunities, with Solomon Islands hitting the post from a corner and Fiji’s goalkeeper, Miliana Maramanikabu, leaving the field after sustaining a head injury.
In the second half, the Solomon Islands came close to scoring, but it was Kuladina’s free-kick from just outside the penalty area that ultimately decided the match. Fiji managed to maintain their lead despite the Solomon Islands’ efforts to equalize.