Solomon Islands began their OFC U-19 Men’s Championship with a determined 1-0 win against Vanuatu in Apia today.
Captain Paul Francis played a key role by slicing through the Vanuatu defense in the 17th minute and delivering a precise pass to James Laena, who fired a powerful shot past goalkeeper Joseph Nakou to score the decisive goal.
This victory provides a strong start for the Solomon Islands in the tournament, while Vanuatu will aim to recover in their next match against Tahiti on match day two.
The Solomon Islands are set to face Fiji on Monday.