Fiji has secured its place in the semifinals of the OFC U16 Championship in Tahiti as the runner-up in Group A, after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Vanuatu.
The match began with Vanuatu taking an early lead through Sakaria Manipen, who scored with a header from a corner kick. This goal caught the attention of the Cook Islands team, which had a stake in the result of the game.
As the match progressed, Fiji began to find their rhythm, with Krishna Samy playing a key role in their comeback. A defensive error by Vanuatu allowed Fiji to equalize, and shortly before halftime, Shankar scored a spectacular free-kick goal to give Fiji a 2-1 lead.
Vanuatu’s Jefpta Taravaki responded with an equalizer early in the second half, taking advantage of another defensive mistake from Fiji. However, Fiji’s determination paid off when Veleni Rasorewa headed in the winning goal, following an excellent cross from Shankar.
The match ended with Fiji celebrating their advancement, putting them not only in contention for the OFC title but also for a chance to qualify for the FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup next year in Qatar.