The Fiji U-16 team achieved their first victory in the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship, defeating the Cook Islands 2-0 in an important match in Suva. Following a tough 3-3 draw against Tonga, Fiji entered the game focused on securing a win to maintain their chances of reaching the semi-finals.
Fiji took the lead early in the match, with Sisilia Kuladina scoring in the 14th minute. Building on her impressive performance from the previous game, Kuladina struck from just outside the box, sending the ball into the bottom left corner of the net, leaving Cook Islands’ goalkeeper Vahine Uini unable to respond.
Grace Lakavutu soon added to Fiji’s tally, skillfully bypassing the offside trap to score and extend the team’s advantage. By halftime, Fiji was comfortably ahead.
In the second half, the Cook Islands displayed increased resilience, putting pressure on Fiji’s young goalkeeper with several scoring opportunities. However, the goalkeeper met each challenge effectively.
The match concluded with Fiji earning three crucial points, placing them second in Group A.