Setareki Hughes came off the bench to score twice in the second half as Bula FC claimed a priceless 2-0 victory over Tahiti United in Honiara, lifting the Fijian side to 12 points and their third win of the season. The result moves Bula to within a point of the top four as the race for a spot in the Leaders Group tightens.
Tahiti United controlled much of the first half, with captain Teaonui Tehau central to their attacking play. Manuarii Shan’s close-range effort was well smothered by Bula goalkeeper Matthew Foord, and Tehau thought he had broken the deadlock with a header from a Mateo Degrumelle corner. That celebration was cut short after a VAR review showed the ball brushed Tehau’s arm on the way in and the goal was disallowed. Roy Krishna almost gave Bula the lead at the other end when his fierce effort from inside the box cannoned back off the crossbar, and Tehau struck the upright himself before the interval as Tahiti continued to press.
The second half began with neither side able to recreate the first-half intensity, and it was a tactical switch from Bula that ultimately decided the contest. Coach Stephane Auvray introduced Hughes, and the No.9 made an immediate impact. A routine long ball over the top found Hughes quicker than Tahiti defender Pothin Poma; the forward nipped in to steer the ball past Jackson Gardner at the near post for the opener.
Five minutes later Hughes struck again. Roy Krishna carried the ball down the right channel and played in Hughes, who cut inside Poma and lashed a low, driven shot into the far corner, giving Gardner no chance and doubling Bula’s lead. Both goals showed Hughes’ sharpness and clinical finishing after being introduced as a substitute.
Tahiti United continued to push for a route back into the game but struggled to carve clear chances in the second period, with Foord largely untroubled thereafter. Samuel Garcia’s side, who dominated possession early, were unable to convert their first-half momentum into a result.
The victory is a timely boost for Bula FC as the campaign reaches a critical phase. Sitting on 12 points, they are now just one point shy of the top four — a narrow margin but one that could prove decisive as teams jostle for qualification into the Leaders Group. The win in Honiara underlined Bula’s resilience and the immediate impact of their bench options, with Hughes’ double the defining moment of the match.
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