The Solomon Islands have secured a spot in the semi-finals after a 1-0 victory over Tahiti in their final group stage match of the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship in Samoa today.
Entering the match, the Solomon Islands knew that a win or draw would ensure their place at the top of Group A and progression to the next round, whereas Tahiti needed a win to advance to the semi-finals.
After a goal-less first half, the decisive moment came in the second half when Jimson Abana pushed towards the byline and set up James Laena, who confidently scored the match’s only goal.
The result marks the third consecutive win for the Solomon Islands, who have impressively navigated the group stage without conceding a single goal.
The Solomon Islands now wait to see the outcome of tomorrow’s Group B matches to determine their semi-final opponent. Meanwhile, Tahiti finishes third in Group A and will compete in the fifth place playoff on Tuesday.